Tuesday April 1,1831

TO JOHN WILSON CROKER, M.P., KENSINGTON, LONDON
MY DEAR CROKER,—Like most great architects you have made a slight mistake in returning the scaffolding. My only complaint is a very trifling one. Young's imitation of Johnson's criticism on Gray is not on my shelves, it is however a book long since printed and I will pick it up one day.
What may be of more consequence the copy of Ascanius is not mine nor have I happened to see it so I suppose it is scarce. MacNicols remarks I have received safe. I knew him a little and rememr. his dining with my father and rather regarded him with awe at the time as a live author. Again a new volume of Boswell's book does not call me master.
Lockhart tells me great things of your warfare. I would not perhaps have been so quiet But the Doctors have taken away my glass and reduced me to the state of the poor madman who notwithstanding that in his imagination he had the best of cooks and kept an excellent table everything he ate tasted of porridge and milk the poor man getting nothing else. I am not quite so bad but am earnestly preached to not to excite myself. I would not stay from my own county meetings. I doubt that it will last over my time which will not be long. I have failed too generally and suddenly.
Let me know when or how I can send the books which are not mine. It is hard that you who helped so many friends with your illimitable franks should ever need one yourself.
My kind respects attend Mrs. Croker and believe me always yours affectionately, WALTER SCOTT