Lockhart's Life of Scott

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 Excerpt: ...having its scene laid in a different province of Scotland; but this scheme was soon abandoned: and the series included only the two stories of the Black Dwarf and Old Mortality. On the first of 25 December, the Tales appeared, and notwithstanding the silence of the title-page, the change of publishers, and the attempt which had certainly been made to vary the style both of delineation and of language, all doubts whether they were or were not from the same hand with 30 Waverley had worn themselves out before the lapse of a week. On the 14th, the London publisher was unable to suppress his exultation, and addressed to Scott himself a letter concluding in these words: --"Heber says there are only two men in the world--Walter Scott and Lr-d Byron. Between you, you have given existence to a Third--ever your faithful servant, John Murray." To 5 this cordial effusion, Scott returned a dexterous answer. It was necessary, since he had resolved against compromising his incognito, that he should be prepared not only to repel the impertinent curiosity of strangers, but to evade the proffered congratulations of overflowing kind '10 ness. Within less than a month, the Black Dwarf and Old Mortality were followed by " Harold the Dauntless, by the author of the Bridal of Triermain." The volume was published by Messrs Constable, and had, in those booksellers' phrase, " considerable success." It has never, 15 however, been placed on a level with Triermain. CHAPTER IX Serious Illness--Laidlaw settled at Kaeside and the Fergussons at Huntley Burn--New House begun--Washington Irving--Publication of Rob Roy--and the Heart of Mid-Lothian--Scott in Edinburgh--1817-1818. Early in 1817, he was visited, for the first time since his childish years, with a p...