  THE ABBOT was published in September 1820, as a sequel to "The Monastery," which appeared in the preceding March. According to Mr Lockhart, it arose in Scott's mind during a visit to Blair-Adam. The beautiful localities of that estate are distinctly alluded to, while the virtues of the amiable owner, Mr Chief Commissioner Adam, are admirably portrayed. In the accompanying illustration, the artist represents an apartment in Holyrood Palace, in which the Regent Murray has just held a meeting of the Privy Council. In the room is a long open table, surrounded by stools of the same wood. In front of a large elbow chair covered with crimson velvet, the Regent is standing. The usher has marshalled Roland GrÆme into the apartment, and the Regent, who had been laughing with the Lords, now assumed a deep and even melancholy gravity. He was dressed in black velvet after the Flemish fashion, and wore in his high crowned hat a jewelled clasp which looped it up on one side, and formed the only ornament of his apparel. He had his poignard by his side, and his sword lay on die table. Roland presented himself with a feeling of awe, and with an abashed manner placed in his hand the letter of Sir Halbert Avenel. The Earl paused before he broke the silk with which the letter was secured, to ask the page his name, so much was he struck with his handsome features and form.
Mr George Cruikshank depicts the entrance of the Abbot of Unreason to the church of St Mary's. The door was thrown open with a shout which brought up the Abbot and his brethren, when the Abbot of Unreason entered. Then was a scene of ridiculous confusion. Boys shrieked and howled; men laughed and hallooed; women giggled and screamed; and the beasts roared; and the dragon walloped and hissed; and the hobby-horse neighed, pranced, and capered; and the rest frisked and frolicked, clashing their hob-nailed shoes against the pavement till it sparkled with the marks of their energetic caprioles. The Abbot seemed at a stand. He made a gesture of his hand as if commanding silence, which was at first only replied to by redoubled shouts and peals of laughter.
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