ELLIOT - MINTO SCRAP ALBUM Album containing upwards of 120 sketches, drawings and watercolours mostly executed between c. 1806 - c. 1860. In addition, there are loosely inserted a number of letters, and engravings (including three col. cartoons by Cruikshank), Vanity Fair cartoons by Spy, and other ephemera. The original contributions are mainly of members of the Elliot family, their houses and friends, sometimes depicting incidents in their life. There are some charming school room scenes, and the album includes the ³Rules to be observed in the School Room at Lennel House² dated 1805.The charming drawing of the dancing class which we illustrate, shows William, afterwards third Earl of Minto, exercising his arms, Lady Elizabeth Elliot, afterwards Lady Romilly, Mr Kendon, the dancing master, Charlie Elliot, afterwards Admiral of the Fleet, Henry, afterwards Sir Henry Elliot, Fanny Elliot, afterwards Countess Russell, ³Doddy² i.e. the Hon. George Elliot, and Mary, afterwards Lady Dumfermline. There is also a series of pen and ink cartoons heightened with body colour (see cover) depicting local characters and dandies of the Regency period, including the Prince Regent and Lady Cunningham.Amongst the inserted correspondence, is a colourful letter to Williaminia Brydone, from Elizabeth or Isabell Bell, which she signs as Tibbie Flint, who was the daughter of the Minister at Coldstream and a fiend of the Brydone family (Gilbert, the 2nd Earl married Mary, the eldest daughter of the famous traveller Patrick Brydone). Sir Walter Scott pays tribute in his journal (7 March, 1828) to Miss Bell's having the ³gift of personification to a much higher degree than any person I ever saw.² Certainly her acidic and detailed description of an unfortunate clergyman whose style did not please her must rank as a minor literary triumph and her language is on the distinctly earthy side. ³ ..it I wad hae cussin into the midden hole that I would have laid aside in the dunghill...²There is suite of three pen and ink coloured drawings illustrating a poem, the drawings attributed by a note on the verso to the Honourable C. Wood ³now Viscount Halifax.² The note is dated June 1859, at which time Charles the 1st Viscount had not yet been elevated to the peerage. It seems more likely that the drawings and verses should be attributed to the younger Charles, afterwards the 2nd Viscount, and famous supporter of the Tractarian Movement. There are other Oxford cartoons dated 1859 (including one of Dr Pusey).