Life of Jane Welsh Carlyle

Front matter

LIFE OF

MRS CARLYLE

LIFE OF

Part I Girlhood

PAGE Early days in Haddington — The Welsh family — Dr. John Welsh — His marriage — John Welsh of Liverpool — The home at Haddington — The only child — Her beauty and talent — The rival grandfathers — Schooldays at Haddington — Jeannie's love of danger and adventure — Edward Irvmg as private tutor — Early signs of originality in the ' only child ' i

Chapter II

Strong attachment between the father and daughter — The last talk — Sudden illness and death of Dr. John Welsh — Jeannie's ' Paganism ' — Serious thoughts — ' Early letters ' to Eliza Stodart — Boarding-school in Edinburgh — Active tendencies — Teaching — Characteristics more plainly shown — The loss of the father's influence — Haddington felt to be dull — Earlv^ lovers — Power of language 16

Chapter III

First meeting with Thomas Carlyle — Introduction by Edward Irving — The May evening — Irving's attachment to Miss Welsh — Carlyle and Margaret Gordon — Isabella Martin — George Rennie— Miss Welsh's early impressions of Carlyle — Literary ambitions and projects — Irving's engagement to Miss Isabella Martin — Miss Welsh's hesitation in accepting Carlyle as a lover — Miss Welsh's readings of Rousseau — George Rennie's departure — Visit of Carlyle to Haddington — Possibilities, ... 25

vii

Vlii CONTENTS

Chapter IV A. D. 1821-1825

PAGE Miss Welsh's German studies — Projected literary work — Irving's anxieties as to Miss Welsh's reading — Remonstrances — Irving goes to London — He introduces Carlyle to the Bullers — The tutorship — More intimate correspondence between Carlyle and Miss Welsh — Friendship the footing prescribed by Miss Welsh — Irving's marriage to Miss Martin — Continuation of the Buller engagement — Carlyle's wooing, and its results — Stoical acceptance of repulse — Dr. Fyffe — Miss Welsh's admiration for genius — The letter from Goethe to Carlyle — Sympathy on Byron's death — ' Benjamin B ' — Miss Welsh does

not pay a visit to the Irvings in London , 34

Chapter V

Carlyle in London — Thoughts of marriage — Difficulties — Mrs. Montagu — 'Barry Cornwall' — Allan Cunningham — The breaking off of the Buller engagement — Irving's hospitality — Serious reflections — Consultations with Miss Welsh — The idea of ' living on a farm ' — Miss Welsh's very different project — Carlyle's independent spirit — Exceptional position of affairs — Miss Welsh's delicate health — The proposal to farm Craigenputtock — Final decision left to Miss Welsh — Suspense — Discussion — Modest wants of Carlyle — Miss Welsh demurs at the essential conditions, but still proffers friendship — Carlyle's renewed professions of attachment 43

Chapter VI

Carlyle at Hoddam Hill — Miss Welsh's transference of Craigenputtock to her mother — Carlyle's personal appearance at this time — Miss Welsh's beauty — Letter from Mrs. Montagu to Miss Welsh — Reference to Edward Irving — An independent spirit — Second letter of Mrs. Montagu — Results — Miss Welsh informs Carlyle of her old attachment to Irving — A woman's appeal — Carlyle's reply — Imperfect understanding — Exciting correspondence — Engagement of Miss Welsh and Thomas Carlyle — Visits to Hoddam Hill and Mainhill — Difficulties as to future residence — Incompatibility between Carlyle and Mrs. Vv^elsh — Misgivings — Correspondence with the Carlyle family — Their removal to Scotsbrig 60

CONTENTS IX

Chapter VII A. D. 1825-1826 Page

Loyalty of Miss Welsh — Her sense of being bound to the engagement with Carlyle — Proposal to live at Scotsbrig — The actual versus the ideal — Miss Welsh's mind made up — Carlyle's determination not to live in the house with Mrs. Welsh — A daughter's devotion and appeal — Renunciation of the cherished wish — The point yielded 71

Chapter VIII

A. D. 1S2O

Mrs. Welsh decides to further the marriage — Herdecision to live with her father at Templand — The Carlyle parents see the impossibility of their son's bride living at Scotsbrig — A new home to be chosen — Impossible conditions — Blindness of Carlyle to the actual situation — Trying uncertainty — The idea of the home at Haddington as a residence for the newly-married pair — Painful objections — The idea abandoned — Recurring failure of plans — And a dissimilarity in ideas — The proposed cottage in Annandale 77

Chapter IX

The home at Haddington broken up — Comely Bank furnished by Mrs. Welsh — Immediate difficulty over — Miss Welsh happier — Her pride in Carlyle's genius — Her estimate of him — The marriage at Templand — Natural cravings for the affection of Carlyle on the part of his bride-elect — Her unconventionality — State of mind as to the approaching ceremony — Miss Welsh prepares to put off her mourning for the occasion — The ' three cigars ' — Good resolutions — White gowns — A post-chaise to Comely Bank 83

Chapter X

Comely Bank — Good resolutions — Social opportunities — A wifely letter — Narrow income — Visit of Dr. John Carlyle — The daily life — The little ' Wednesday evenings ' — Friendship with

CONTENTS

PAGE Jeffrey — Brighter prospects — Household activities on Mrs. Carlyle's part — Renewed ideas of living at Craigenputtock — Its unsuitability to Mrs. Carlyle's needs — Carlyle visits it with his brother Alick — The tenant about to leave — Letter from Mrs. Carlyle — Loving response 95

Chapter XI

Alexander Carlyle and his sister Mary go to live at Craigenputtock — The visit of the Carlyles to Templand, Scotsbrig, &c. — Prospect of some professorship for Carlyle — Disappointment — Decision for Craigenputtock — A sacrifice — Bleak and barren situation of the new home — Jeffrey's disapproval of the plan — Mrs. Carlyle's courage — House-moving — Carlyle's despair — Correspondence of Mrs. Carlyle with her old friend, Miss Eliza Stodart — Ideals of married life relinquished — Carlyle's frequent depression and absorption in his work — The wife's isolation 103

Chapter XII

Cares of bread ' — The first loaf — Visit of the Jeffreys to Craigenputtock — Mrs. Carlyle's preparatory ride to Dumfries — Friendly advice of Jeffrey to Carlyle — Invitation to Moray Place — The two mountain ponies — Mrs. Carlyle's loneliness — ' Brother Alick ' — A visit to Templand — Letter from the wife to the husband — Visit of the Carlyles to Edinburgh — 22 George Square — Return to ' The Desert ' — Serious illness of Mrs. Carlyle — Visit of Mrs. Welsh — Permanently weakened health no

Chapter XIII

Alexander Carlyle leaves Craigenputtock — Second visit of the Jeffreys to the Carlyles in their solitude — Mrs. Carlyle confesses her unhappiness to Jeffrey — The eventless life again sets in — The Jeffreys go to London — Carlyle's generosity to his brothers — He accepts help from Jeffrey, and goes to London to push his literary enterprises — A hard and sad time for Mrs. Carlyle — Ill-health and anxiety — Her verdict on 'Sartor' — Letters from Carlyle to his wife — Irving in the region of the supernatural — Caution of publishers — Good appointment for Dr. John Carlyle — Thoughts of living in Lon-

CONTENTS XI

PAGE

don — Tender letters from Carlyle — Solitude doing its work on the delicate constitution of Mrs. Carlyle — Kindness of Carlyle's mother — Mrs. Carlyle's determination to join her husband in London — Encouragement ii8

Chapter XIV

Mrs. Carlyle's arrival in London — Ampton Street — The Irvings — Ill-health of Mrs. Carlyle — Position with Mrs. Montagu — Meetings with congenial spirits — Carlyle still restless — Death of his father — Impending return to Craigenputtock — Misgivings — A sad return — Solitary habits — Realisation of the actual by Mrs. Carlyle — Jeffrey's anxiety about Mrs. Carlyle. 125

Chapter XV A. D. 1832-1834

Carlyle's letter to his mother — Mrs. Carlyle's overstrained nerves and failing strength — Her letter to Eliza Stodart — Mrs. Welsh's delicate health — Death of Walter Welsh of Templand

, — The Carlyles plan a long visit to Edinburgh — The home at 18 Carlton Street, Stockbridge — The ' disgraceful home march' — An ' angel's visit ' at Craigenputtock — Meeting of Emerson and the Carlyles — The relapse into solitude — Living in London seriously contemplated — Preparations 133

Chapter XVI

The new, yet old life — Unalterable conditions — The removal to London — Leigh Hunt — John Stuart Mill — Allan Cunningham — The circle of friends — Edward Irving's visit — George Rennie and his sister — Eliza Miles — Burning of the MS. of Vol. I. of ' French Revolution ' — Wifely sympathy — ' The Sterlings ' — Sprinklings of foreigners — Domestic difficulties — Visit of Mrs. Welsh — Maternal counsels from Scotsbrig — Godefroi de Cavaignac 145

Xll CONTENT'S

Chapter XVII Page

Retrospect on the Scotch journey — Return to Chelsea — Mrs. Carlyle's letter to Sterling — Carlyle's supposed ' ladyadmirers ' — The lectures — Success and congratulations — Second visit of Mrs. Welsh — Flight of Carlyle into Annandale — ' The bird and the watch ' — Regrets and ill-health of Mrs. Carlyle — Cheque from Emerson, being proceeds of ' French Revolution ' — John Sterling's health — Reflections thereon — Carlyle again in Scotland — Letter to John Forster : ' Why do women marry ? ' — The ' Lion's wife ! ' 154

Chapter XVIII

Trouble at Templand — Sudden alarm — Summons too late — Mrs. Carlyle receives the news of her mother's death when on her way to nurse her — Carlyle goes to Templand to wind up the estate — Mrs. Welsh buried at Crawford — Heartstricken letter to Mrs. Russell of Thornhill — Troston Rectory and the BuUers — Lady Harriet Baring — Mrs. Carlyle's return to Cheyne Row — First meeting with Miss Jewsbury and the Paulets — ' The three-cornered alliance' — Household 'earthquaking' in Cheyne Row — Mrs. Carlyle's first expressed judgment of Lady Harriet Baring — Stay at Ryde — Father Mathevv — Loss of strength — Need of a quiet place for Carlyle to write in — Failure of the attempt — Letter to John Welsh of Liverpool — Carlyle's hopefulness of his wife's health — Her visit to Liverpool and Seaforth (the Paulets) — Visit to the Grange — Painful thoughts — ' Cromwell ' concluded 168

Chapter XIX

The dark cloud — Carlyle's anxiety — Mrs. Carlyle seeks counsel — Mazzini's honourable and noble advice — The flight to Seaforth — Birthday gift and gentle words — Renewed counsels — Renewed bitterness — Lord Houghton's estimate of Lady Harriet Baring — Contrasts — Sad thoughts — Clough's Poem — Visit to W. E. Forster — Again at Addiscombe — Hopeless misunderstanding — The healing of the wound rendered impossible. . . . 186

CONTENTS Xlll

Chapter XX Page

Return to Cheyne Row — Renewed illness — Bitter reflections — Disappointment — Confidences to Uncle John Welsh — A winter's visit of Carlyle to the Barings — Mrs. Carlyle remaining at Cheyne Row — Remonstrances of Miss Jewsbury — Long illness of Mrs. Carlyle — Consultations with John Forster — Visit to Addiscombe — Death of Lord Ashburton — Carlyle's tour in Ireland — The forgotten plaid — Mrs. Carlyle visits Lady Harriet Baring (now Lady Ashburton) at Alverstoke — Brilliant society but no sleep — Death of John Sterling — Declining health of Jeffrey — Haddington — Betty Braid, the ' old nurse' — Scenes of childhood revisited — 'Mathew Baillie ' — Mrs. Carlyle visits her father's grave — Sunny Bank — Sad and loving meetings — ' Old Jamie ' — Manchester and Miss Jewsbury — Illness of Helen Welsh of Liverpool 197

Chapter XXI

Introduction to James Anthony Froude — Arthur Clough — Spedding — Froude's impressions — Mutual loneliness of the Carlyles — Mrs. Carlyle's letter to Mrs. Aitken — Note to John Forster — Visit to the Grange by Carlyle — ' Nero ' and ' Shandy' — Nero's letter — Failing ideas — Society felt to be hard work by Mrs. Carlyle — Latter-day pamphlets concluded — Carlyle in Wales — Renewed household ' earthquakings ' at 5 Cheyne Row — Failing strength of Mrs. Carlyle — Sad thoughts — Fruitless regrets and good resolutions 207

Chapter XXII

Carlyle's visit to the Marshalls — Tennyson and his bride — Disgust at the Exhibition of 1851 — Visit to Malvern — Verdict thereon — Miss Gully's letter — Mrs. Carlyle again at the Grange — Repairs at Cheyne Row — Visit to Macready — Carlyle's ' Life of Frederick ' — He sails for Rotterdam — A serious undertaking — Mrs. Carlyle visits Lady Ashburton — Carlyle's second German tour — Discomforts — Return to 5 Cheyne Row of Mrs. Carlyle — Further ' earthquakings ' — A second visit of Mrs. Carlyle to the Lady Ashburton — Sleeplessness — Depression — The old letter — Carlyle's return — Commencejnent of ' Frederick ' — Mrs. Carlyle with the John Carlyles at Moffat — Return to softer conditions at Chelsea 219

XIV CONTENTS

Chapter XXIII A. D. 1853-1856 Page

Declining health of old Mrs. Carlyle at Scotsbrig — Mrs. Carlyle hastens to her — Womanly tenderness — The danger staved off — Return to Chelsea — Death of John Welsh of Liverpool — Visit of the Carlyles to the Grange — The ' soundless ' room at Chelsea— Return of Mrs. Carlyle — Noises — Death of Helen Welsh — Death of Carlyle's mother — Wifely sympathy — Miss Jewsbury comes to live in London — Miss Fox — Mazzini's farewell — Mrs. Carlyle's Journal — Deep misery — Sympathy — Budget of a ' Femme Incomprise ' 229

Chapter XXIV

Position between Mrs. Carlyle and Lady Ashburton — The Scotch journey — Carlyle at ' The Gill ' — Mrs. Carlyle at Auchtertool — ' Seeking and finding ' — Sunny Bank — Tender Remembrances — The return to London — Death of Lady Ashburton — Tribute to her — Bitter reflections — Scotland again — First readings of a portion of ' Frederick ' — Wifely pride — Mrs. Carlyle's return to Cheyne Row — Discouragement — The kindness of Mr. Henry Larkin — Another visit to Germany — Mrs. Carlyle at Lann Hall — Holm Hill — Letters to Mr. Larkin — Cheyne Row once more — Second marriage of Lord Ashburton — Mrs, Carlyle's thoughts of her mother — The visit to ' Humbie ' and Auchtertool — Carlyle again in Annandale with his own people 243

Chapter XXV

Life in Cheyne Row — Mrs. Carlyle's return — George Rennie's death — Letters of Mrs. Carlyle on the subject to Mrs. Dinning of Belford, Northumberland — Carlyle at Thurso Castle — Mrs. Carlyle, with Lady Stanley of Alderley, eji roicte for Scotland — Holm Hill — Misunderstanding as to date of Carlyle's return — Mrs. Carlyle returns to Cheyne Row unnecessarily — Carlyle's remorse — Two servants kept 249

Chapter XXVI

Mrs. Carlyle's craving for her ' one little maid-servant ' — Death of Arthur Hugh Clough — Mrs. Carlyle's visit to Ramsgate with Miss Jewsbury — Sleeplessness — Longings to visit Mrs.

CONTENTS XV

PAGE

Russell — Estimate of men — Miss Barnes' marriage — Deaths of dear friends — Folkestone — Mrs. Carlyle accomplishes her visit to Holm Hill and Craigenvilla — ' Old Betty' — Visit to Auchtertool — Home again — Illness of Lord Ashburton in Paris — Mrs. Carlyle's wish to go and be useful — Sad letter to ' Old Betty ' — The Carlyles at the Grange — Neuralgia or rheumatism causing Mrs. Carlyle increasing pain — The accident soon after the return to Cheyne Row — Carlyle's account — Mr. Froude's account — Mr. Larkin's account 267

CHAPTER XXVH

Consequences — The first re-appearance of the invalid — Mr. and Mrs. Froude spend a bright evening with the Carlyles — Mr. Simmonds — Ominous signs — Death of Grace Welsh — Decreasing strength of Mrs. Carlyle — Passage from the ' Reminiscences ' — Unaidable pain — Maggie Welsh — The strange nurse — Invitation to St. Leonarcs 278

CHAPTER XXVHI

Mrs. Carlyle's resolution — Mr. Larkin — The terrible journey — Maggie Welsh — Carlyle at Chelsea — Regrets — Despair — The furnished house — Maggie Welsh recalled to Liverpool — Mary Craik — Sad bulletins — Carlyle's visits — Calls of friends — The sufferer too weak to see them — Mrs. Carlyle writes to her r^ aunts — Insomnia — Heavy days — Futile plans of change — Mrs, ^ Carlyle's horror of returning to Chelsea — Miss Bromley's kindness — Mrs. Carlyle starts for Scotland with Dr. John Carlyle — Spending a night in London on her way — Mrs. Austin — Removal of Mrs. Carlyle to Holm Hill — Her dread of travelling home — The return — The worst over 285

CHAPTER XXIX

The brougham — Mrs. Carlyle's joy at her husband's gift — Illness again — Visit of the Carlyles to Lady Ashburton at Seaton, Devon — Soothing impressions — Discomfort again at Cheyne Row — The 'hereditary housemaid' — At Holm Hill once more — Suffering health — Erskine of Linlathen — Home duties at Cheyne Row — Depression — Letter to Miss Jewsbury 294

XVI CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXX A. D. 1865-1866

PAGE

Carlyle offered the Lord Rectorship of Edinburgh University — His wife's wish that he should accept it — His election — His journey northwards with Professor Tyndall — The last parting — Professor Huxley — Mr. Erskine of Linlathen and Carlyle's brothers gathered in Edinburgh — The great day — Immense success — The telegram — The dinner at Forster's — Interview with Professor Tyndall — Excitement — The projected tea-party — The afternoon drive — Sudden death of Mrs. Carlyle — Carlyle receives the news at Dumfries — The unopened letter — Funeral at the Abbey Kirk of Haddington — Epitaph — Reflections 301

Appendix

I. The Welsh Ancestry 309

II. Dr. John Welsh 310

III. The Death of Dr. John Welsh 311

IV. Mrs. Carlyle and De Quincey 313

V. Carlyle's Account of the Baking of the First Loaf. . 314

VI. Verses by Mrs. Carlyle 3^5

VII. Carlyle Localities in Edinburgh 316

VIII. A Remembrance of Sunny Bank 3^9

IX. Letter to Mrs. Carlyle from her Husband 320

X. Extract from a Letter to Mr. Carlyle on his Wife's

Death 321

XL Carlyle at the Grave of his Wife 323

INDEX 325

LIFE OF

Chapter I

A. D. iSoi— i8ig

Early days in Haddington — The Welsh family — Dr. John Welsh — His marriage — John Welsh of Liverpool — The home at Haddington — The only child — Her beauty and talent — The rival grandfathers — School-days at Haddington — Jeannie's love of danger and adventure — Edward Irving as private tutor — Early signs of originality in the ' only child.'

Human beings whose gifts and qualities barely reach the average level of mediocrity are, now and then, apt to acquire, during their lifetime, a factitious halo of importance or of interest, attaching to them less through any special merit of their own, than through some circumstance of a passing or local nature extraneous to their veritable character. Possibly, however, it is of more frequent occurrence that those who are really remarkable, who are undoubtedly ' giants among the pigmies' by virtue of surpassing intellectual and moral attributes, fail of a true appreciation among their fellows, or receive but partial recognition, even at the hands of those privileged to intimacy with them. It would seem that these brilliant natures, specially open to unfavourable influences as they too often are, seldom realise their own highest possibilities — do not come to blossoming, but, obeying an ironical decree of fate, veil their bright presence in some mysterious cloud of suffering or inevitable misinterpretation, and so move amongst us, hidden from our true sight, till the end comes, when they suddenly stand revealed to our unobservant eyes. Such has been the case, to a large extent, with the subject of this memoir.

Nearly a quarter of a century has passed away since the death of Jane Welsh Carlyle, and, except among those who knew her intimately — a sadly-diminished number, alas! — there has been comparatively scant recognition of her brilliant powers and altogether unique and charming personality. The publication by Mr. Froude, in 1883, of the 'Letters and Memorials,' gave us a revelation. These letters, so truly remarkable for style and power, for humour, pathos and originality, were read with the deepest interest. In their conciseness and keen intellectuality, in their vivid word-painting, in their fearless frankness, they present a Rembrandt-like portrait of a woman, touched with strongest lights and deepest tragic shades — a faithful and an unerring portrait, selfdepicted.

Jane Baillie Welsh was born at Haddington on July 14, 1801. Her ancestors on the father's side could be traced back to a certain famous John Welsh, minister of Ayr, who married the youngest daughter of John Knox. Then came a long line of John Welshes who, through many generations, had been lairds of Craigenputtock, that ' Hill of the Hawk ' so impressed on our minds, the high moorland farm standing bleak on the Dunscore Moors, sixteen miles from Dumfries, with its dark sheltering pines and its few acres of grass-land — a green island set in a wilderness of heathery hills, sheepwalk, and undrained peat-bog.

In the rebellion of 1745, the then John Welsh, laird of Craigenputtock, was among the sympathizers, and narrowly escaped comniitting himself. The son of this same laird died young, leaving his widow at Craigenputtock with one child, another John Welsh, whom she, by-and-by, sent to a tutor

Lairds of craigenputtocjc x

in Nithsdale, and afterwards to Tynron school, which was in good repute in those days. But the young laird's education ended somewhat abruptly with his marriage, at seventeen years of age, to a Miss Hunter, a year younger than himself, daughter of the farmer with whom he boarded whilst attending Tynron school. This girl-bride was the grandmother, in later days, of Jane Baillie Welsh, and her bridegroom was afterwards John of Penfillan — that grandfather so beloved by his bright little granddaughter.

In the early days, Craigenputtock was the home of this very youthful couple. In that solid, gaunt farmhouse, with a small income and many struggles, the adventurous pair contrived to bring up their large family of fourteen children. We are not surprised that pecuniary straits compelled the young man to sell part of the estate, namely Nether Craigenputtock, in order to pay his sister's portion, and, long years afterwards, Craigenputtock proper, to his own eldest son, John Welsh, then Dr. John Welsh of Haddington, and father of Jane Baillie Welsh.*

This eldest son was born at Craigenputtock in 1776, and early went to Edinburgh University, where his intelligence and distinguished merits were not overlooked. He was apprenticed to one of the celebrated brothers, John or Charles Bell; Mr. Froude thinks most probably to Dr. John Bell, as Sir Charles Bell was only two years the senior of John Welsh. When but twenty years of age, the young surgeon was recommended for a commission in the Perthshire Fencibles, a post which he held for two years. In 1798 he came to Haddington, and shortly thereafter joined Mr. George Somner, a surgeon in that town, in partnership. The practice was carried on very successfully, under the title of Somner Welsh. Mr. Somner, however, died in June 1815, Dr. Welsh having previously assumed as a partner Mr. Thomas Howden, a former apprentice, of the firm. An annuity of 200/. a year was paid by Dr. Welsh to his retired partner for some years, * See Appendix I.

and on the death of Dr. Welsh, Mr. Howden assumed as a partner Benjamin Welsh, M. D., the younger brother. This partnership continued till 1826, when Dr. Benjamin Welsh died.

Dr. John Welsh was a surgeon of great skill, always ready to relieve suffering humanity; he was greatly loved and esteemed by all who came in contact with him. He was a man of fine disposition, stately presence and gentle manners, unselfish and noble-minded. He rapidly made a fortune, and, as we have seen, in order to help his numerous brothers and sisters, actually purchased the family estate of Craigenputtock before it should come to him by inheritance, paying off all incumbrances, with the intention of retiring to it himself, on relinquishing his medical practice. He, no doubt, looked forward to carrying on the family tradition by settling in his birthplace, and in due time leaving another John Welsh there to succeed him. But this was never realised.

In the year 1800 Dr. John Welsh married. He chose a wife who was also a Welsh, though the families were entirely unrelated. Miss Grace Welsh boasted as famous an ancestry as himself, if tradition could be trusted. Dr. John Welsh could trace his descent to John Knox, and the lady he married traced her pedigree, through her mother, once the beautiful Miss Baillie, back to William Wallace. Grace Welsh's father, Walter Welsh, was a prosperous stock-farmer, then living at Capelgill, on Moffat Water. When his daughter Grace, or, as the Scotch sometimes call this pretty name, 'Grizzie,' married her young doctor, and went to live at Haddington, old Walter moved into Nithsdale, and took the farm then known as Templand, near Penfillan. Thus the two grandfathers of the yet unborn Jane Baillie Welsh, connected only through the marriage of their children, became close neighbours and friends.

The beautiful Miss Baillie, Walter Welsh's wife, died early. She it was who came of Wallace. It was a son of hers and

THE DOCTOR AND HIS BRIDE ^

Walter's, another John Welsh, who went into business in Liverpool, where, after a time of prosperity, he fell into trouble through the dishonesty of a partner, who, alas! was also his brother-in-law-elect. Left to bankruptcy, with a debt of 12,000/., John Welsh gallantly remade his fortune, and after eight hard years' struggle invited his creditors to dinner, and each man found under his cover a cheque for the full amount of his claim. There must have been good fighting material, and honour withal, in the Welsh blood that came of Wallace.

But let me turn to the home in Haddington, where Dr. John Welsh brought his beautiful bride; for, by all accounts, Mrs. Welsh must have been a lovely woman, 'tall, aquiline, and commanding.' In character she seems to have been emotional and sensitive, easily saddened, and variable, perhaps, in her moods. More is known of Dr. John Welsh, who must in every way have realised his wife's preconceived ideals, of which, doubtless, she had many and lofty ones. From the description of him handed down by those who knew him, he was of noble, distinguished presence, tall, highly graceful, self-possessed, dignified, strikingly handsome, with black hair, bright hazel eyes, and lively and expressive features. More noteworthy, however, were his moral character and his medical sagacity, which combined in the consistent and honourable man, faithful at all points, and universally esteemed. The home in Haddington was not only comfortable and well appointed — elegance and refinement were added to ease of circumstances.

Dr. Welsh led a busy life in his profession, his fatigues being much increased by the many miles of riding incidental to a country practice, which caused him to have never less than three strong saddle-horses at his command. He was punctual to a minute in the keeping of appointments, inflexible where right was concerned, and possessed of the strong pride of independence. He was a loving and wise husband to his beautiful Grace, and a devoted father to the one child born to them — the little Jeannie, whose birth, on July 14, 1 801, has been already chronicled.

This only child must have shown to the eyes of those who loved her, very early indications of her uncommon nature and qualities — points no less noticeable than, and far outweighing in importance, the unusual beauty apparent from the beginning. She was the child of remarkable people, and traced her ancestry through generations of original and strikingly superior characters; it was not wonderful that she should present a remarkable, almost unique type in her own person. Her curling black hair, large black eyes, now shining with soft mockery, now softly sad; clear pale skin, broad forehead, and nose the least bit retrousse^ give us a picture of this arch, gay, mobile little creature, with her slight, airy, and graceful figure in harmony with the spiritual face. Those who knew her, speak of her as beautiful to the very end of her life. Such beauty as could call forth this universal tribute must have been undeniably pronounced. Such beauty as could survive in triumph the long martyrdom of suffering to which this bright creature was predestined, must have traced its truest source to the spirit within, whence it could still shine forth amid ruins. Even in early childhood it was felt by those around her that the most remarkable gifts of this fairy-like Jeannie were those of the mind. Her extreme intellectual vivacity startled them all. And no wonder! It does not seem, however, that the lively child was spoiled by over-indulgence, had the mother inclined to that fault.

Dr. John Welsh v/atched with ceaseless care over this precious only child, and strict obedience was the rule in the Haddington household. Still, there was scope enough for natural playfulness. The nearness of two grandfathers must have offered many opportunities for the little lady, and she was a special favourite of Walter of Templand, whom she occasionally visited. Her Mitlle name' of 'Pen' meant ' Penfillan Jeannie," by which old Walter always called her. * See Appendix III.

./ ''P REVO CIO us CHILD 7

No doubt there was a certain rivalry between the two grandfathers in attracting the notice of this precocious and gifted little child; a born coquette we may suppose her, even from her babyhood, with that wonderful caprice of baby-girls so intensely amusing to grown-up people, so half-pathetic and altogether human when considered from some points of view. Who has not seen the dimpled despot of a year old, safely enthroned in the arm of mother or father, give, or passionately refuses the kiss, contract the whole face with sudden frown, or dispense bewitching smiles, and offer or sharply withdraw the dimpled rose-leaf hand?