Sir walter scott, that poetry as a staff was a pleasant companion to walk with, but perilous as a crutch to lean upon; and so I remained a man of business. At the same time I mingled freely and plea. Santly with manv of the foremost men in literature, art, and science. In some of the important movements in the metropolis, political, social, and charitable, it has been my good fortune to take an active part and in connection with several of them my name is still united.