[10] The preface and Mylne's interpolations are appended to Mr. Laing's
preface to the _Historical Notices_.

'Having been much astonished to learn, from a perusal of the foregoing
review,[11] that Sir Walter Scott had stolen a march on me, and
published a Manuscript of Lord Fountainhall's, at the very time when he
had reason to believe me engaged in the work, and that by his own
suggestion, and being above all things surprised that he had not thought
it proper to acquaint me with his intention before carrying it into
effect, I sat down and wrote to him the following letter, in which,
being aware how much he who I was addressing was to be considered as a
sort of privileged person in literary matters, I took special care to
give no offence, to write calmly, and to confine myself to such a simple
statement of the facts as might bring a blush into his face without
exciting the smallest angry feeling. I hoped, too, that I might prevail
on him, as some atonement for his sins, to lend a helping hand to bring
forth the real work of Lord Fountainhall in a proper style.'

[11] In Constable's Magazine. See _infra_.

To SIR WALTER SCOTT OF ABBOTSFORD, BARONET.

'_Relugas, near Forres_,
_22nd May 1822_.

'DEAR SIR,--From _Constable's Magazine_ for last month, which has this
moment fallen into my hands, I learn, for the first time, with some
surprise, but with much greater delight than mortification, that you
have condescended to become the Editor of a portion of my Ancestor Lord