Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-15

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sibility of rendering a fictitious parsonage inter-
esting, by mere dignity Of mind and rectitude
of principle, assisted by unprciending good
sense and TEMPER. without any Of the beauty.
grace, talent, accomplishment, and wit, 10
which a heroine Of romance 10 supposed 10
have a prcscriptive right. r. the portrait was
received with interest by the public, ] nm con-
scious how much it was owing 10 the truth and
iorce of tie original sketch. which / regret
that | am unable TO present to the public, as
1t was written with much feeling and spirit.
"Old and odd books and n considerable
collection of family legend, formed another
quarry, SO ample, that il was much more like
ly that the strength of the laborer should be
exhausted, than the materials should fail. l
may mention. for examples sake, that the ter
rible catastrophe Of the Bride Of Lammermoor
actually occurred in a Scottish family Of rank.
The female relative, by whom the melancholy
tale was communicated 10 mo many years
since, was 4 near connexion of the family in
which the event happened, and always told it
with an appearance of melancholy mystery,
which enhanced the interest. She had known,
in her youth, the brother who rode before the
unhappy victim to the fatal altar, who, though
then a nero boy. and occupied almost entirely
with the gallantry Of his own appearance in
the bridal procession, could not but Tcmar
that the hand Of his sister was moist, and cold
as that Of a statue. 1t is unnecessary further
to withdraw the veil from this scene Of family
distress, nor, although it occurred more than a
hundred years since, might it be altogether
agreeable to the representatives Of the fami-
lies concerned in the narrative. 1t may be
proper to say, that the events are initiated;
but / had neither the means nor intention OF
copying the manners, or tracing the charac-
tiers, of the persons concerned in the real story.
Indeed, may here state generally, that al
though l have deemed historical personagcs
free subjects of delineation, have never, on
any occasion, violated the respect due to pri-
vatc life. 1t was, indeed, impossible that traits
proper TO persons, both living and dead with
whom | have had intercourse in society, should
not have risen 10 my pen in such works as Wa
verify. and those which followed it. But | have
always studied to gencralize the portraits, so
that they should still seem, or the whole, the
productions Of fancy, though possessing some
resemblance to real individuals. Yet | must
own my attempts have not in this last particu-
lar been uniformly successful. There are men
whose characters are SO peculiarly marked;
that the delineation of some leading and prin-
cipal feature inevitably places the whole per-
son before you in his individuality. Thus, the
character Of Jonathan Oldbick, in the Anti
quarry, was partly founded on that Of an old
friend of my youth, TO whom | an indebted for
Introducing me to Shakespeare. and other in
valuable %favors; but tborGht l had so COM
plctely disguised the likeness, that it could not
he recognized by any one now alive. ! was
mistaken, however, and indeed had cndanger-
cd what | desired should be considered as n
secret; for | afterwards learned that a highly
respectable gentleman, one of the few surviv-
ing friends of my father, and an acute critic,
had said, upon the appearance of the work,
that he was now convinced who was the au-
thor of it, as lie recognized, in the Antiquary,
traces of the character Of Il very intimate friend
of my fathers family.
may here also notice, that the sort OF cx-
change of gallantry, which is represented as
taking place bctwixt the Baron of Bradwar-
dine and Col. Talbot, n literal fact. The real
circumstances ofthc anecdotc, alike honorable
TO Wing and Tory, arc Observation-Disclosures
Stewart, Of invcrnahylc, 49, a name which l can
not write without the wagmcst rccollcctions of
gratitude to the friend of my childhood who
first introduced ne TO the Highlands, their ira
Gitions. and their manners - had been engaged
actively in the troubles ofl7I5. AS he charg-
cd at the battle OF Preston, with his clan the
Stewards Of Aprlnc, he saw an officer OF the
opposite array standing alone by 4 battery Of
Of lDur cannon, of which he discharged three
on the advancing Highlanders, and then drew
his sword. Invornalyle rushed on him; and re-
CURED him 10 surrender. : Never to rcbels!'
was the undaunted reply, accompanied by a
longe, which the Highlander received on his
target; but instead of using his sword in cut
ting down hs now defenccless antagonist, he
employed it in parrying the blow ola Locha-
Der axe, aimed at tho officer by the Miller, one
of his own followers, n grim-looking old High
lander, whom ] remember TO have seen. Thus
ovcrpowcred, Lieutenant Colonel Allan White
ford, n gentleman cf rank and consequence.
as well rs a brave officer, gave up his sword,
and with it his purse and watch, which ;1vcr-
nahylc accepted, TO save them from his follow
crs. After the affair was over, Mr.. Stewart
sought out his prisoner, and they were intro
duccd TO each other by the celebrated John
Roy Stewart, who acquainted Colonel White
ford with the quality Of his captor, and made
him aware of the necessity of receiving back
his property, which he was inclined to leave
in the hands into which it had fallen. So great
became the confidence established be:wiXt
them, that Invernahylc obtained from the che
Waller his freedom upon parole, and soon after
wards, having been sent back TO the Highlands
TO raise men, he visited Colonel Whitclofd at
his own house, and spent two happy days with
him and his Wing friends, without thinking, on
either side, Of the civil war which was then
raging. When the battle Of Cullodcn put an
end 10 the hopes Of Charles, Edward I%nverna-
lyle, wounded and I'M bic TO move, was borne
from the field by the faithful zeal of his retain.
crs. But as he had been a distinguished Jaco-
bite, his family and property were exposed to
the system Of vindictivc destruction 100 gene
rally carried into execution through tho coun-
try of the insurgents. 1t was now Colonel
Whiteford's turn to exert himself, and he wca-
ricd all the authorities, civil and military. viii