THE IMPERIAL MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1832.

MEMOIR OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, BARONET.

(With a Portrait.)

WHAT opinions soever may be entertained 'respecting the character and tendency of SIR WALTER SCOTT's writings, no one can doubt that he was a most extraordinary man. The extent and fertility of his genius scarcely knew any bounds, and his industry fully corresponded with the activity of his mental powers. To his extensive acquaintance with historical facts, he added a warmth of imagination that stood unrivalled among all competitors; and ages will probably elapse, before he will be eclipsed by the rising of a brighter star.

In poetry, metaphysics, medicine, moral philosophy, history, and general literature, Scotland has long been honoured with names of renown; and the genius of Sir Walter Scott has given to the constellation a brilliancy which no clouds can obscure, no feculence can ever tarnish. His writings have erected an imperishable monument to his memory, and deeply engraven on the tablet of fame an inscription, which the lapse of ages will be unable to efface.

It is in general, both interesting and instructive to trace the early history of rising genius, whether favoured with the auspicious gales of fortune, or struggling with adversities, which nothing but persevering energy can surmount. In the latter case, genuine talent shines with the most resplendent lustre; even destiny appears to submit to enterprise, and conquest is hallowed by the instruments of victory. "He

Sir Walter Scott entered life under very favourable circumstances. had to encounter none of those difficulties which sometimes crush the youthful spirit in its earlier and unaided efforts; he had to struggle with no dependence, that frequently breaks the mind which it overloads; nor to grapple with poverty, which is generally associated with bitterness and degradation. From the first dawn of intellect, his path was smooth before him, so that his entrance into life was easy and unembarrassed. With him, mental exertion was a matter of choice, not of necessity. Employment was sought, to give a relish to leisure; he was surrounded with every thing to render life comfortable, and passed his early years in the bosom of his family, enjoying contentment and respectability."

The subject of this memoir was the eldest son of Walter Scott, Esq. a counsellor in Edinburgh. His mother was the daughter of Mr. David Rutherford, a distinguished member of the same profession. He was born on the 15th of August, 1771, and educated in the High School, Edinburgh. 2D. SERIES, NO. 23.-VOL. II.

3 R

167.-VOL. XIV.

We are not aware that any particular incident or combination of circumstances had any distinct influence on his mind, that could lead him to embrace that department of literature in which he has so far outshone all his associates and predecessors. The innate vigour of his spirit prompted him to activity, and a constitutional predisposition presenting vivid pictures to his imagination, administered, while roving in the fields of fancy, to the delight which rewarded his excursions in the regions of fiction and marvellous narrative. The following paragraph in his own words, will convey a characteristic statement of his views, feelings, and attachment, at the early period of which we speak.

"I must refer to a very early period of my life, were I to point out my first achievement as a story-teller-but, I believe, some of my old schoolfellows can still bear witness, that I had a distinguished character for that talent, at a time when the applause of my companions was a recompence for the disgraces and punishments which the future romance writer incurred, for being idle himself, and keeping others idle, during hours that should have been employed on our tasks. The chief enjoyment of my holidays was, to escape with a chosen friend, who had the same taste with myself, and, alternately, to recite to each other such wild adventures as we were able to devise. We told, each in turn, interminable tales of knight-errantry, and battles, and enchantments, which were continued from one day to another as opportunity offered, without our ever thinking of bringing them to a conclusion. As we observed a strict secrecy on the subject of this intercourse, it acquired all the character of a concealed pleasure; and we used to select for the scenes of our indulgence, long walks through the solitary and romantic environs of Arthur's Seat, Salisbury Craigs, Braid Hills, and similar places in the vicinity of Edinburgh; and the recollection of these holidays still forms an oasis in the pilgrimage which I have to look back upon."

In the pursuits thus noticed, Mr. Scott was confirmed by a severe illness, through which, for a considerable time, he was confined. This was occasioned by his breaking a blood-vessel, which debarred him from more active exercise. Books now furnished his only amusement, and the shelves of a circulating library, at Edinburgh, filled with novels, romances, travels, and adventures, yielded an inexhaustible supply. These being congenial to his taste, soon made him an inhabitant of an imaginary world, and rendered even historical facts subservient to the creations of his prolific fancy, in which, through future life, he always found himself at home.

His friends, at this time, either disregarding, or altogether overlooking the predilections of this ardent lad, had, in their own minds and calculations, destined him to the profession of his father; and in accordance with this view, his earlier years were devoted to the study of the law. Legal technicalities, and tedious forms, however, could not furnish the charms which fiction was always ready to supply. To the former he attended from a sense of duty, but the latter was at all times a matter of choice. That gave him employment, this afforded constant recreation. There he found himself a drudge, but here he revelled in the sunshine of literary fascination.

A few ballads founded on tales, traditions, and incidents, very generally known, were first submitted to the public eye. These attracted rather more attention than the author had anticipated; and the effect of their success was, to transform the legal student into a votary of the muses. His friendship and intimacy with Mr. Lewis led to the publication of "Glenfinlas," and "The Eve of St. John," and his researches into the legendary stories with which the traditions of Scotland abounded, after some time, gave

birth to "The Border Minstrelsy." This also was favourably received, and the success which had attended his exertions, stimulated him to an enterprise still more arduous. At length "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" made its appearance, which, being in story and style, original, fascinating, and strange, opened a new element in the world of poetry. "The heather was now on fire;" fame had opened the gates of her temple; and nothing appeared, to impede his progess towards the sublime elevation.

In his early attempts at versification, the youthful bard had submitted the production of his muse to some well-known friends, and, following their judgments, he had many a time committed his compositions to the flames. To this sentence, he has since observed, "I sometimes submitted with a heavy heart." Wearied, however, with their unfavourable decisions, he resolved to appeal to strangers. The effect justified the experiment; and public opinion readily acknowledged that merit, which his more intimate associates were unable to discover.

The "Last Minstrel" was favoured with an extensive and rapid sale; and so well satisfied were the publishers with its success, that when "Marmion" was presented, they gave the author for it one thousand pounds: and, as a proof that they were not dissatisfied with their bargain, they subsequently presented the author with a hogshead of claret.

"The Lady of the Lake" rather increased than diminished the author's popularity. It is a poem which gives what may be termed the domestic life of chivalry, developing its private scenes, and, in the tumult of gentle affections, strangely blending the pathos and action which constitute its leading characteristics. In this poem there are numerous beauties, and, for a considerable time, they furnished subjects for conversation and criticism, which in general operated in favour of the author's reputation.

"The Lady of the Lake" retained its poetical ascendancy, until "Rokeby" appeared, and became its rival. Of this latter poem, the story highly interesting; but to its fine descriptions, snatches of beautiful song, nicely drawn contrasts, and shades of character, the author is chiefly indebted for the plumes with which it has adorned his brows. The fascinating grasp which these two works had taken of the public mind, may be inferred, from the comparative estimate of their respective sales.

Sold of "The Lady of the Lake," from June 2d to Sept. 22d, 1810.

2,000 Quarto, at £2. 2s.

6,000 Octavo, at 12s.

Sold of Rokeby from January 14th to April 14th, 1813.

£4,200

3,600

£7,800

£6,048

3,500

£9,548

Of these two poems, so high was the celebrity at the time to which the above estimates refer, that it was rather dangerous and disreputable for any person of taste not to be acquainted with the poetry of Mr. Scott. On this tide of opinion, many were known to sail with a tolerable degree of credit: because they were acquainted with the titles, and number of pages, that each volume contained, but who, if asked to produce a single line, would have betrayed the nakedness of the land :-Have you seen "The Lay of the Last Minstrel ?" Have you seen the "Lady of the Lake?" Have you seen "Rokeby?" were generally leading questions, in all respectable companies. "How do you like them?" could easily be answered in the affir

mative, and between such rival compositions there could be little danger in venturing an opinion.

For several other poems we are indebted to the pen of this indefatigable author. Each in its turn enjoyed a high degree of reputation, and many have passed through numerous editions. So loud indeed, at one period, was the trumpet of fame, in favour of his poetry, that no one anticipated its discontinuance, or predicted a louder blast.

Lord Byron, however, about this time, ascending above the poetical horizon, was hailed as a star of the first magnitude, whose lustre far outshone the brilliancy of all his contemporaries. The muse of Mr. Scott still retained its intrinsic value, but another having soared above him, the station which he occupied in the public mind now became secondary, from the more elevated rank which Byron commanded in the hemisphere of poetry. To the productions of his lordship, all eyes were turned; and the combination of superior talents with a titled bard, exhibited a novelty that was every where attractive. Of this successful rivalry, the poetry of Mr. Scott was destined to feel the mortifying effects. Few inquired after his works; the sale was in a great measure suspended; and after some time the productions of this poetical idol languished in neglect, and became partially forgotten. Few instances are on record, in which the versatility, and even the meanness of public opinion, are more apparent than in its connexion with Mr. Scott's poetry. On the plaudits of capricious fame, no dependence can be placed; and in the case before us, those who bask in her most fascinating smiles, may learn a useful lesson from this contemplation of her instability.

To the eclipse of Mr. Scott's poetical popularity, three causes may be said to have conspired. First, he felt a consciousness that he must now abdicate a throne which could no longer exact undisputed homage; and, as a natural consequence, a correspondent change was wrought in the ardour of his spirit, and the fervour of his imagination: secondly, the intense interest which the writings of Lord Byron had excited, left him little to hope; and thirdly, the desire of novelty, which is never without its influence on the reading world, especially on such as are captivated with the rich colouring and romantic excursions of a vivid imagination, was now gratified with a new object. These causes, combined in their effects, created for a season a suspension of his mental operations, but, in the issue, wrought for him a revolution in the direction of his energies, in which no future Byron is ever likely to outshine his brilliancy, or tarnish the halo of glory that surrounds his name.

But before we proceed to the prose department of Sir Walter Scott's works, to the margins of which we have arrived, it may be needful to view him in connexion with the duties of his profession at the bar, and of this we have the following account in his own words.

"It may be readily supposed that the attempts which I had made in literature had been unfavourable to my success at the bar. The goddess Themis is, at Edinburgh, and I suppose every where else, of a peculiarly jealous disposition. She will not readily consent to share her authority, and sternly demands from her votaries not only that real duty be carefully attended to and discharged, but that a certain air of business shall be observed even in the midst of total idleness.

"Of late, however, she has relaxed in some instances in this particular; an eminent example of which, has been shewn in the case of my friend, Mr. Jeffrey, who, after long conducting one of the most influential literary periodicals of the age, with unquestionable ability, has been, by the general consent of his brethren, recently elected to be their Dean of Faculty, or President, being the highest acknowledgment of his professional talents which they had it in their power to offer. But this is an incident much beyond the ideas

of a period of thirty years' distance, when a barrister who really possessed any turn for lighter literature, was at as much pains to conceal it, as if it had in reality been something to be ashamed of; and I could mention more than one instance, in which literature and society have suffered loss, that jurisprudence might be enriched.

"Nor did the solicitors, upon whose choice the counsel takes rank in his profession, do me less than justice by regarding others among my contemporaries as fitter to discharge the duty due to their clients, than a young man who was taken up with running after ballads, whether Teutonic or national. My profession and I, therefore, came to stand nearly upon the footing on which honest Slender consoled himself with having established with Mistress Anne Page: "There was no great love between us at the beginning, and it pleased Heaven to decrease it on farther acquaintance.' I became sensible that the time was come when I must either buckle myself resolutely to the toil by day, the lamp by night,' renouncing all the Delilahs of my imagination, or bid adieu to the profession of the law, and hold another course. I confess my own inclination revolted from the more severe choice, which might have been deemed by many the wiser alternative."

It has been said, that two distinct circumstances concurred, to direct the author's attention to prose. First, his emulation had been awakened by the success of Miss Edgeworth's "Tales of Irish Life;" and secondly, by his undertaking to edite John Strutt's posthumous romance of Queenhoo Hall, whose want of success induced the editor to alter the original plan. He observes that "by rendering the language too ancient, and displaying his antiquarian knowledge too liberally, the ingenious author had raised an obstacle to his own success." By this discovery, Sir Walter resolved to profit, and no one who is acquainted with his prose productions can for a moment doubt, that he has avoided the rock on which Strutt's romance had suffered shipwreck.

The first sketch of Waverley having been drawn up, was advertised by Ballantyne as "Waverley, or, "Tis Fifty Years Since." This was afterwards altered to "Sixty," to suit the actual time of publication. Having made some progress in this work, he fell again into the same error that had marked his early poetry. He submitted the MSS. of about seven chapters to a friend. The decision was unfavourable; the publication was abandoned, and the papers, now no longer deemed of value, were thrown aside, and for a time mislaid, if not forgotten. An accidental search for some fishing-tackle, led to their discovery, and finally, to their publication.

We need not descant on the powerful sensation which the first appearance of Waverley excited. It seemed to open a new era in this species of composition; the superior talents of the author were every where acknowledged, and as no name appeared, conjecture found full employment in attempting to discover what the writer had impenetrably concealed. The mystery in which he lay enveloped, served only to increase and prolong the interest that was every where apparent, but, like the letters of Junius, for this work no legitimate parent could any where be found. The secrecy, however, operated with an attractive power, and was not without a considerable influence in directing public attention to this most wonderful composition. But no ingenuity could draw aside the curtain, no research could penetrate the author's hidden retreat. By public consent, Waverley was, therefore, acknowledged in all its beauties to be the production of some GREAT UNKNOWN. Succeeding works displayed the same talents, but the author still remained buried in the same obscurity; and it is not improbable, that the midnight darkness would have continued unbroken, and, perhaps for ever, if the failure of a celebrated publisher in Edinburgh had not compelled Sir Walter Scott to avow himself the author of those remarkable compositions.

From the first publication of Waverley, to the period of his death, Sir Walter Scott, without any interruption, floated on the full tide of popularity.