Address panel with seal and postmarks and addressed to George Ellis.
Dated "23d Nov. 1804" on p. 1, possibly in Scott's hand. Corrected day of writing from postmark.
Labeled "No. 28" and "in answer to G. E. Nov. 10" on p. 1, possibly in the hand of J. G. Lockhart.
Part of a collection of letters from Sir Walter Scott to various recipients. Items in this collection have been described individually in separate catalog records; see collection-level record for more information.
Fearing that Ellis is too sedentary and that he is like Scott's friend Plummer who used to say "that a walk from the parlour to the garden once a day was sufficient exercise for any rational being;" reporting that he has finished the "Lai le Freine;" citing a controversy and regretting the "very pitiful catastrophe of Dr. Young's publication;" discussing publication matters related to "Sir Tristrem" and mentioning the lack of critical response to that work; thanking him for his insight about Hugh de Morville, noting that "it is actually a ray of light which had been unable to penetrate my numscull while I was engaged with Thomas (the Rhymer)." Thanking him for his kind attention to Daniel Scott's interests (in the West Indies); saying he is "highly indignant" at Leyden's lack of correspondence since his departure, hoping that he will be able to account for his "extraordinary silence." Describing his wife's outings and sending her compliments.