Marriage | Page 7

hundred miles above Marriage. It reminds me of Miss
Austen's very best things in every page. And if the third volume be like
these, no fear of success triumphant.'"
[1] In Marriage the gourmet physician to Lord Courtland, and "the
living portrait of hundreds, though never before hit off so well."
[2] Miss Becky Duguid.
Mr. Blackwood again says:--
"You have only to go on as you are going to sustain the character Sir
Walter gave me of Marriage, that you had the rare talent of making
your conclusion even better than your commencement, for, said this
worthy and veracious person, 'Mr. Blackwood, if ever I were to write a
novel, I would like to write the two first volumes, and leave anybody to
write the third that liked.'"
In the following note, Lister, author of Granby, also expresses his
admiration in graceful terms, and with a copy of his own novel for Miss
Ferrier's acceptance:--

T. H. Lister to Miss Ferrier.
"17 Heriot Row, Feb. 3, 1836.
"My DEAR MADAM--I should feel that, in requesting your acceptance
of the book which accompanies this note, I should be presuming too
much upon the very short time that I have had the honour of being
known to you, if Mrs. Lister had not told me that you had kindly
spoken of it in approving terms. I hope, therefore, I may be allowed,
without presumption, to present to yon a book which you have thus
raised in the opinion of its writer, and the composition of which is
associated in my mind with the recollection of one of the greatest
pleasure I have derived from novel-reading, for which I am indebted to
you. I believe the only novel I read, or at any rate can now remember to
have read, during the whole time I was writing Granby, was your
Inheritance. --Believe me, my dear Madam, your very faithful, T. H.
LISTER."
From Mrs. Lister (afterwards Lady Theresa Cornewall Lewis) Miss
Ferrier also received the following complimentary note:--
Mrs. Lister to Miss Ferrier.
"Thursday Night. 17 HERIOT Row.
"My DEAR MISS FERRIER--I cannot leave Edinburgh without a
grateful acknowledgment of your very kind and flattering gift. Mr.
Lister called upon you in hopes of being able to wish you good-bye,
and to tell you in person how much we were pleased with the proof you
have given us that we are not unworthy of enjoying and appreciating
your delightful works--pray accept our very best thanks, and I hope as
an authoress you will not feel offended if I say that they will now have
an added charm in our eyes from the regard which our personal
acquaintance with the writer has engendered. I knew that, to those who
do not mix much in society, the acquaintance with strangers is often
irksome: we therefore feel the more obliged to you for having allowed
us the pleasure of knowing you, and I hope that if we return in the
course of the year that we may find you less suffering in health, but as

kindly disposed to receive our visits as you have hitherto been. We feel
very grateful for all the kindness we have met with in Edinburgh, and
amongst the pleasant reminiscences of the last five months we must
always rank high the having received from you as a token of regard so
acceptable a gift.--Believe me (or, indeed, I ought to say us), my dear
Miss Ferrier, yours most sincerely,
M. THERESA LISTER."
Lord Murray, the late Scotch Judge, writes to a mutual friend of his and
Miss Ferrier's (Miss Walker of Dalry):--
"I received a copy of Inheritance in the name of the author, and as I do
not know who the author is, and I suspect that you know more than I
do, trust you will find some channel through which you will convey my
thanks. I read Inheritance with very great pleasure. The characters are
very well conceived, and delineated with great success. I may add I
have heard it highly commended by much better judges. Jeffrey speaks
very favourably. He is particularly pleased with the Nabob (Major) and
spouse, the letter from the Lakes, and the P.S. to it. Lord Gwydyr, who
lives entirely in fashionable circles, said to me much in its praise, in
which I concurred.
"From many other symptoms I have no doubt of its complete success."
Miss Hannah Mackenzie, daughter of the "Man of Feeling," writes to
her friend Miss Ferrier:--
"Walter Scott dined here the other day, and both he and papa joined
heartily in their admiration of uncle Adam, and their wish to know who
he is. Sir W. also admires Miss Becky Duguid, and said he thought her
quite a new character. I should like very much to see you, and talk