Together they spent many hours in conversing upon the scenes which had formed subjects for the poet's pen and awakened a deep veneration for the legends of Scottish lore.
Perhaps in no other way can we better pay a parting tribute to the memory of Sir Howard Douglas than by inserting the following letter which had been forwarded when the latter had arrived from New Brunswick: "Abbotsford, Near Melrose, 21st July, 1829.
"_My Dear Sir Howard_,-- "I have just received your most welcome letter and write to express my earnest wish and hope that, as I have for the present no Edinburgh establishment, you will, for the sake of auld lang syne, give me the pleasure of seeing you here for as much time as you can spare me.

There are some things worth looking at, and we have surely old friends and old stories enough to talk over.

We are just thirty-two miles from Edinburgh.

Two or three public coaches pass us within a mile, and I will take care to have a carriage meet you at Melrose Brigley End, if you prefer that way of travelling.

Who can tell whether we may ever, in such different paths of life, have so good an opportunity of meeting?
I see no danger of being absent from this place, but you drop me a line if you can be with us, and take it for granted you hardly come amiss.