1818.] ( 355 ) MEMOIR OF WALTER SCOTT, Esq. (With a Portrait.) IF biography is difficult when employed upon subjects that have long since been removed to a sphere where popularity has no charm, and envy cannot sting, the task is far more delicate and embarrassing to delineate characters still moving on the theatre of public observation, and whose labours continue to be the object of general inquiry. While it is extremely natural to indulge a spirit of curiosity with respect to the private history of eminent persons who are coetaneous to ourselves, the gratification of it requires peculiar Daution, lest the narrative, instead, of contributing to the ends of truth, prove the means of propagating error. Contemporary biography has beyond all doubt, many important advantages, because it lays in a supply of materials for the future historian of the progress of literature; and through the want of which, in regard to the ages that are past, the researches of the most perspicacious and industrious inquirer are so often spent in vain. Had proper attention been paid to the several leading incidents in the life of Shakspeare, by those who were most jutimately acquainted with his personal history, and that of his family, much useless conjecture on his religion and his learning, would have been spared, and the labours of his numerous commentators have been considerably abridged. But however valuable a living record may be, it can only be so by a scrupulous regard to the verity of facts and the accuracy of dates. Criticism must be left to the test of time, and the sober judgment of posterity. Such is the principle by which we profess to be guided in sketching the memoirs of existing characters, for the gratification of our present readers, and the benefit of future inquirers. It will, therefore, be our care to study precision, rather than diffuseness, and to relate a plain story with the simplicity of "honest chroniclers," that they who shall hereafter seek information on matters of fact may not be ashamed to cite the authority of our volumes for what they relate. Thus much we have thought proper to observe by way of apology for a memoir, the length of which may appear in the estimation of many very disproportionate to the importance of the subject, without considering that ving excellence seldom furnishes the means of minute detail. Walter Scott is the eldest surviving son of a gentleman of both the same names, who was an eminent advocate, or writer to the signet at Edinburgh, where the subject of this sketch was born, August 15, 1771. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, was the daughter of David Rutherford, esq. writer to the signet, from whom she obtained a handsome fortune. She was a woman of great virtue and accomplishments, with a good taste for poetry, as appeared in some of her productions which were deemed worthy of being printed after her death in 1789. Walter, from the tenderness of his constitution and the circumstance of his lameness, was in a great measure brought up at home, under the immediate care and instruction of this excellent parent, to whom he was much attached through life, and whose loss he sincerely lamented.,. Of his early pursuits little is known, except that he evinced a genius for drawing landscapes after nature. At a proper age he was sent to the High School of Edinburgh, then under the direction of Dr. Alexauder Adam, a man of more compass of learning than correctness of judgment, who endeavoured to introduce a new grammar into his seminary in the room of Ruddiman's, but had the mortification to find it rejected by the heads of the University. In this school young Scott passed through the different forms, without exhibiting any of those extraordinary powers of genius which are seldom remembered till the person to whom they are ascribed has become by the maturity of his talents an object of distinction. We have heard it said, that he was considered in his boyhood as rather heavy than otherwise, and that the late Dr. Hugh Blair had discernment enough to predict his future eminence when the master of the school lamented his dullness; but if this be correct, it only affords another instance of the fallacy of human opinion in pronouncing judgment upon the real capacity of the youthful understanding. BARROW, the greatest scholar of his age, was discarded as a blockhead by successive teachers; and his pupil, the illustrious NEWTON, was declared to be fit for nothing but to 356 Memoir of Walter Scott, Esq. drive the team, till some friend succeeded in getting him transplanted to, College. Having completed his classical studies at the High School, with as much reputation we suppose as others of his standing, Walter Scott removed to the University of Edinburgh, where also he passed the classes in a similar manner. His continuance here, however, could not have been long, for after serving the prescribed terms in the office of a writer to the signet, he was admitted an advocate of the Scotch bar when he had not quite attained the age of twentyone. From this time to the year 1798, his life appears to have passed in a devoted attention to his professional duties, mindful of the advice "not to pen stanzas when he should engross." At the last mentioned date he entered into the matrimonial state with Miss Carpenter, by whom he has four children. At the close of the year following, he received the appointment of Sheriff Depute of the county of Selkirk; and in March, 1806, he was named one of the principal clerks of Session in Scotland. With regard to this last piece of preferment, it should be observed that his warrant, though drawn, had not passed the seals, when the death of Mr. Pitt produced an entire change in the ministry. The appointment of Mr. Scott had been effected through the friendship of Lord Melville, who was then actually under impeachment. This circumstance appeared very ominous against the confirmation of the grant; but so it was, that no objection arose, and, thus as a witty friend remarked, this appointment was the "last Lay of the old ministry." Released now from the drudgery of professional labour by the acquisition of two lucrative situations, and the possession of a handsome estate through the death of his father, and that of an uncle, Bir. Scott was enabled to court the muses at his pleasure, and to indulge in a variety of literary pursuits without interruption. His first publications were translations from the German language, at a time when the wildest productions of that country were much inquired after in England, owing to the recent appearance of that horrible story the Lenora of Burger. The very year when different versions, and some of them highly ornamented, of that tale came out, Mr. Scott produced two German ballads in an English dress, entitled "The Chace' and "William and Helen." [Nov. 1, These little pieces, however, were not originally intended for the press, being nothing more than exercises in the way of amusement, till a friend-to whom they were shewn prevailed for their publication, and at the same time contributed the preface. Three years elapsed before Mr. Scott ventured to appear again in print, when he produced another translation from the German, in "Goetz of Berlinchingen," a tragedy by Goethe. Two years afterwards the late Matthew Gregory (commonly called Monk) Lewis, enriched his tales of wonder, with two ballads communicated to him by our author, one entitled, "The Eve of St. John," and the other "Glenfinlas." In 1802, came out his first great work, "The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," beautifully printed at Kelso, by Ballantyne. This collection immediately ar rested general attention, and though the pieces of which it is composed are very unequal, the master-mind and soaring genius of the poet shone conspicuously throughout. His next publication was "Sir Tristram, a metrical romance of the thirteenth century; by Thomas of Ercildown;" printed in 1804. Still, however, Mr. Scott may be said as yet to have been only rising in fame; but he soon gained enough to have intoxicated an ordinary mind in the applause bestowed upon his Lay of the Last Minstrel," which appeared in quarto, in 1805. The following year he published a collection of "Ballads and Lyrical Pieces." Shortly after this, public expectation was raised by the promise of a poem, on the perfection of which the bard was said to labour as for immortality. Accordingly in 1808, appeared "Marmion, a tale of Flodden field;" which the author has himself characterized as " containing the best and the worst poetry he has ever written." The same year Mr. Scott favoured the world with a complete edition of the works of Dryden, in which he gave a new life of that great writer, and numerous notes. But this was not the only instance of the fecundity of his genius and the rapidity of his pen, for while these volumes were proceeding through the press, he found time also for a quarto of Descriptions Illustrations of the Lay of the Last Minstrel.” and Within a few months after this, he undertook, at the request of the booksellers, the superintendence of a new 1818.] · Memoir of Walter Scott, Esq. edition of Lord Somers's collection of historical tracts; and at the same time edited Sir Ralph Sadler's state papers, and Anna Seward's poetical works. Yet the very year when these last publications appeared, witnessed the birth of another original offspring of his prolific muse. This was theLady of the Lake," which has been the most popular of all his acknowledged works; though in the opinion of many it is inferior in several respects to his "Lay of the Last Minstrel." In 1811, came out "The Vision of Don Roderick;" in 1813, "Rokeby;" and in 1814, "The Lord of the Isles." In the last mentioned year he also published a prose work on The Border Antiquities of England;" and a new edition of Swift, with a biographical memoir and annotations. At a subsequent period, he has given two performances to the public on the same subject, one in prose and the other in verse; the first entituled "Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk," and the other "The Battle of Waterloo." Such is the ascertained list of the literary progeny of Mr. Walter Scott, exhibiting abundant testimony of original genius, extensive powers, and uncommon industry. But even this catalogue, rich and large as it is, must receive yet farther additions of still greater value, if the general report be correct, that he is the author of a series of romances, the popularity of which is without a parallel. When WAVERLEY came out, there was but one opinion on the subject of its parent; and each succeeding novel, in a rapid course of publication, has only served to confirm that ascription. Yet, strange to say, he alone who should decide the question, preserves a determined silence upon it; nay, as we have been informed, he even rejects the merit of having written any part of those interesting stories. Here, then, the matter must rest; for however strongly inclined we may be to think with the public in this instance, we cannot conceive the motive for denying that which it would be honourable to avow. There can be no moral or political reason for throwing an impenetrable veil of secrecy over the author of a set of volumes by which the whole world has been delighted and even instructed. The time has passed when a man was called to decide between retaining a valuable preferment, and burning a romance. But even were the concealed author of "Guy Mannering an ecclesiastic of high dig 357 nity, we should be disposed to recommend to him the example of Heliodorus, and that without feeling any compunctions about the magnitude of the sacrifice. John Home, in our own days, renounced his manse and his kirk, rather than submit to the arbitrary mandates of the presbytery; but we believe, were such a case again to occur, there is not a doctor or elder in all Scotland that would wish to deprive the author of "Douglas" of his preferment for having written a stage play. But Mr. Scott is under no such restraints; and he who ushered the "Lady of the Lake" into public view with his name, need not be ashamed to acknowledge his relation to a romantic family, every one of which bears the stamp, the lineaments, and the air of the minstrel. But to leave uncertainty for reality. Mr. Scott has been a very fortunate man; and his prudence through life has been in proportion to his advantages. At the bar, indeed, he never made any shining figure; but he was released from the necessity of labour as a lawyer, by the family property which came into his possession, and the valuable appointments to which he was preferred. His writings, also, have added largely to his gains, and enabled him to make some considerable purchases of land in the county of Roxburgh. We have been informed, however, that he has suffered pretty deeply by the failure of some trading concerns of an extensive nature, in which he took a share, But if he be the author of the celebrated novels, upon which we have made some observations, he must have realized enough to constitute him one of the richest Lairds on the hill of Parnassus. Mr. Scott is at present engaged, we understand, in illustrating a graphic work upon the Antiquities of Scotland; of which country he has long since held out the promise of an elaborate history: a pledge which we sincerely hope he will speedily be induced to redeem. It remains to be observed, that Mr. Scott in private life bears a most amiable character, endeared to his family, and beloved by an extensive circle of friends. We have heard it said, that he has a brother in America, of a kindred genius, and to whom, on that account, some persons have not scrupled to attribute the romances which have excited so much interest, and drawn forth so many inqui ries in regard to their origin. J. W. [We beg to remind our Correspondents that all Notices for this Department must be sent on or before the 15th of each month.] The Tragedy of Guilt, by ADOLPH MULNER, which has made so much noise in Germany, is about to make its appearance in an English Translation. Mr. CAULFIELD, of Bath, is preparing a volume for the press, which will contain every important transaction of the Regency from the year 1811, to the last dissolution of Parliament. A work on the simplicity and ingenuity of the Evidence in favour of the Miracles recorded in the Gospels, contrasted with the best and most striking wonders of the Christian Church in the succeeding centuries, is printing by the Rev. W. FAULKNER, A. M. The Topographical and Monastic Antiquities of St. Neots and Eynesbury Hunts, and St. Neots, Cornwall, by Mr. Gorham, is preparing for the press. Mr. WARDEN will publish in the course of the ensuing season, a Statistical, Political, and Historical Account of the United States of America, in 3 vols. 8vo. JAMES PLAYFAIR, D. D. &c. has in a considerable state of forwardness, a Geographical and Statistical Description of ScotJand. The Rev. C. R. MATURIN, Curate of St. Peters, Dublin, has in the press a volume of Sermons. Mr. W. KNIGHT, Lecturer on Natural Philosophy in the Institution of Belfast, is about to publish Facts and Observations toward forming a new Theory of the Earth. JOHN OXLEY, esq. Surveyor-General of the Territory of New South Wales, is about to publish a Journal of an Expedition over part of the hitherto Terra Incognita of Australasia. Shortly will be published the Political and Literary Anecdotes of Dr. Wm. KING, principal of St. Mary Hall, Oxford, written by himself. Mr. MALONE'S curious Library is to be sold by auction in the course of the winter. A satirical novel, entitled, The Englishman in Paris, with sketches of remarkable characters, is nearly ready for publication. In the press, Remarks on the present state of Musical Instruction, with the Prospectus of an improved plan; in which the great need of a new order of musical designation, and the important advantages resulting therefrom, are explicitly stated, by JOHN RELFE, musician in ordinary to his Majesty, &c. &c. The Rev. H. B. WILLIAMS has in the press Eight Sermons at the Lecture founded by the Hon. Robert Boyle, with an Appendix, containing strictures on Mr. Gisborne's testimony of Natural Theology. The Rev. Sir JOHN HEAD will publish in the course of the present month, Discourses on various subjects in one vol. 8vo. A Catalogue is now in preparation of the library of the late M. Millin. It consists of 22,000 volumes. The Prussian Govern ment, it is said, has made proposals for the purchase of this valuable collection for the purpose of bestowing it on the University lately founded at Bonn.. Doctor J. CAREY has in the press a new edition of " Dryden's Virgil," with remarks on the text, as corrected from Dryden's own folio edition. The same gentleman has also forthcoming a new edition of his Latin Prosody made easy, and Drakenborch's Livy. The Regent's pocket edition. The Rev. RICHARD WARNER will pub lish early in December in 3 vols. 12mo. Old Church of England Principles opposed to the New Light, in a series of 32 plain doctrinal and practical Sermons. The Rev. Dr. Chalmers, of Glasgow, will shortly publish a volume of Sermons preached by him in the Tron Church. The Rev. W. PULLING, A.M. and F.R.S. is preparing for publication a volume containing 12 Sermons, with appropriate Prayers, from the Danish of Dr. Nicolay Edisger Balle Regius, Professor of Divinity. Shortly will be published, a Graphic and Historical description of the City of Edinburgh, comprising a series of Views of its most interesting remains of antiquity, publie buildings, and picturesque scenery. The drawings have been made by J. and H. S. Storer, who will likewise engrave the plates. In the press and speedily will be published, (introductory to a superb edition of the Seasons, &c. with original illustrations and embellishments) a new Biographical Memoir of James Thompson, containing many interesting anecdotes of his early life, and some notices of his most intimate friends. Early in the ensuing year will be published, a new work exclusively devoted to Music, entitled, "The English Musical Gazette," to be continued regularly every month. Mr. BARROW, of the Admiralty, is preparing for publication, an Account of the late Polar Expedition in one vol. 8vo. WALTER SCOTT, esq. is preparing for publication, "The Provincial Antiquities, and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland." Tobe embellished with plates by Turner, Callcott, Thompson, Nasmyth, Blore, Williams, and other artists of eminence. 1819.] (339) AGRICULTURAL REPORT. THE heavy rains which have fallen at intervals during the last month, with the very fine warm weather that immediately succeeded them, have greatly improved the Turnip crops, and produced an abundance of feed in the meadows, pastures, and old clover layers; the latter never turned up better, for the important and now more extensive operation of Wheat setting or dibbling, which has been going on most rapidly. The young Wheats begin already to assume a fine appearance (perhaps rather too rank) in some places southward of Norwich. On the weak clover-layers the farmers are sowing ray-grass (a peck per acre) and rolling it in. The great quantity of feed, and the prospect of a tolerably good Turnip crop, have caused an advance in the prices of lean beasts, sheep, and lambs. Apples are so plentiful this year, that a sack of them may be had for one of Potatoes--that crop having generally failed. So favourable a Michaelmas time was never remembered for every agricultural operation. The speculative opinion entertained by some respecting the scarcity of Wheat, on taking the average of the counties, is confirmed by the general rise on the markets, which the foreign imports are not large enough to affect. The maltsters not having begun to wet down, has occasioned a declension of price in Barley, except those of superior quality. Some cargoes are expected from the Baltic, but whether of a kindly malting quality is yet uncertain. Oats, Peas, and Beans, except Massigans, (which are dearer,) are somewhat under last month's prices. Rape, and all other small seeds, are lower. Potatoes yield the least productive crop that has been known for many years. Hops were never known to take so critical a turn, as to raise, in ten days, the year's expected duty from 50 to 160,000L: the fall of price has consequently been from 201. to 80l. per cent. The late warm rains have forced the Grass lands most luxuriantly, and considerably improved the latter Turnips and Coleseeds. Hay retains its high price. The new sown Ryes and Winter Tares have planted kindly. The season has proved highly favourable to the fallow lands, which were raised in due time. Wheat sowing has commenced in many districts upon clover-leys, on light soils, where, from the late rains, the land works well for the seed. Average Prices of Corn, By the Quarter of Eight Winchester Bushels, from Returns in the Week ending Oct. 12. |