"On Wednesday I dined in company with Sir Walter Scott, and he spoke of the work in the very highest terms. I do not always set the highest value on the baronet's favourable opinion of a book, because he has so much kindness of feeling towards everyone, but in this case he spoke so much con amore, and entered so completely, and at such a length, to me, into the spirit of the book and of the characters, that showed me at once the impression it had made on him. Everyone I have seen who has seen the book gives the some praise of it. Two or three days ago I had a note from a friend, which I copy: 'I have nearly finished a volume of The Inheritance. It is unquestionably the best novel of the class of the present day, in so far as I can yet judge. Lord Rossville, Adam Ramsay, Bell Black and the Major, Miss Pratt and Anthony Whyte are capital, and a fine contrast to each other. It is, I think, a more elaborate work than Marriage, better told, with greater variety, and displaying improved powers. I congratulate you, and have no doubt the book will make a prodigious sough'." [1]
[1] Sensation.
Mr. Blackwood adds: "I do not know a better judge nor a more frank and honest one than the writer of this note."
Again he writes:—
"On Saturday I lent in confidence to a very clever friend, on whose discretion I can rely, the two volumes of The Inheritance. This morning I got them back with the following note: 'My dear Sir—I am truly delighted with The Inheritance. I do not find as yet any one character quite equal to Dr. Redgill, [1] except, perhaps, the good-natured, old-tumbled (or troubled, I can't make out which) maiden, [2] but as a novel it is a 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:—