Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-15
PROVIDENCE.
THE CHRONICLES OF TIE CANoNGATE

volumes, commences with Sir Walter SCOTS
cured many of the materials for his numerous
novels, and explains the whole mystery Of his
incognito; he next furnishes a curious preface,
in which he appears in the character of the
Chronicler Of the C~anongatc, and TO these in
the FIRST volume, are added the first Chronicle
"The Highland Widow"-and "Thc Two
Drovers," which We gave last wcck.-Thc
volume is occupied by the story Of e" The Sur
gcon's Daughtcr'-The introduction is SO truly
interesting and throws so much light upon the
origin of many of The Waverly Novels, while
it embodios the generous Acknowledgements Of
the author to those who have supplied him with
interesting facts, however scanty, and which
he has wrought up 10 narratives of the deepest
import. that we shall lay the greater part of it
before our readers.
After some playful %allusion to the incognito
Of Arlochino, the Italian actor, who, while he
retained his wizard, delighted all parties by his
attitudes and acting, but when in his vanity he
played barcfaced, totally failed-having lost
the audacity which a sense of the incognito
bestowed our author proceeds:
"Pcrhaps the Author of Waverly is now
about to incur a risk Of the same kind, and en-
danger lbs popularity by having laid aside his
incognito. II is certainly not a voluntary ex-
pertinent, like tina: Of harlequin; for it was my
original intention never 10 have avowed these
works during my lifetime, and the original
manuscripts were carefully preserved (though
by the care of others rather than mine) with
the purpose of supplying the necessary evil
dcnce of the truth when the period of announce
ing it should arrive. But the affairs Of my
publishers having unfortunately passed into a
mar cement different from their own, | had no
right any longer to rely upon secrecy in that
quarter: and thus my mask, Xix. my Aunt Di-
nah's in Tristan Shandy, having begun 10 wax
a little threadbare about the chin, it became
time to lay it aside with a good grace, unless
I desired it should fall in pieces from my fr.ce.
Yet ! had not the slightest intention of choos-
ing the time and place in which the disclosure
was finally made; nor was there any concert
betwixt my learned and respected friend, Lord
M~eadowbank and myself upon that occasion.
1t was, as the reader is probably aware. upon
the 23d of February last, at a public meeting,
called for establishing a professional Theatrical
Fund in Edinburgh. that the communication
took place. Just before We sat down to table,
Lord M~eadowbank asked me whether 1 was
still anxious TO preserve my incognito on the
subject of what was called the Wave.Iy Nov
els did not Immediately soc the purpose Of
his Lofdship's question, although [ certainly
might have been led to infer it, and replied,
that the secret had now become known TO so
many people, that | was Indifferent on the sub
.a.t o.J Al.Iok.>I asa. tl,, ,,I,,.t
while doing me the great honor Of proposing
my health TO the meeting, to say something on
the subject ofthese novels, so strongly connect
ing them with me as the author, that, by re-
naming silent, | must have stood convicted,
either of the actual paternity, or Of the still
greater crime of being supposed willing TO re-
ceivc, indirectly, praise to which | had no just
title. | thus found myself suddenly and uncy-
pectcdly paced in the confessional, and had
only time to recolicct that | had been guided
thithcr by a most friendly hand, and could not,
perhaps, find a better public opportunity TO
lay down a disguise, which began 10 resemble
that of n detected masqucrader. | had there
fore the task of avowing myself to the numer.
Gus and respectable company assembled, ms
the sole and rnaided author Of these novels of
Wavc-ly, the paternity of which was likely a;
one time TO have formed u controversy of some
celebrity.
&c now think it further necessary 20 say,
that while ! take on myself all the merits and
dement's attending these compositions, | am
bound to acknowledge, with gratitude, hints
Of SUBJECTS and legends which | have received
from various quarters, and have occasionally
used rs a foundation of my fictitious compost
tons, or woven up with them in tho shape of
episodes. ] am bound, in particular, 10 ac-
knowledge the urrcmitting kindness of Mr.. Jo-
scph Train, supervisor Of excise at Dumfrics,
to whose unwearied industry l have been IN
dcbted for many curious traditions and points
Of antiquarian interest. 1t was Mr.. Train who
recalled TO my recollection the history of Old
Morality, although l myself had a personal
interview with that celebrated wanderor, so
far back us about 1892, when l found him on
his usual task He was then engaged in re-
pairing the grave-stones Of the Covcnanters,
who had died whlln imprisoned in the castle of
Dlmnotter, 10 which many Of them were COM
mitted prisoners, at the period of Argylc's rs-
ing: their place Of confinement is still called
the Whig'o Vault. Mr.. Train, however, pro-
cured for inc far moro extensive information
concerning this singular parsonage, whose
name was Patterson, than l had been able to
acquire during my short conversation with INN.
lie was, las | have somewhere already stated
n native Of the parish Of Closoburn, IN Dunn
fries shire, and it is believed that domestic
affection, as well as devotional feeling, in
duccd him TO commence tho wandering mo o
of lifo, which he pursued for a very long Pc
Rod. Ii is moro than twenty years since Rob
ort Paitcrson's death, which took place on the
high road near Lockcrby, where bo was found
exhausted and expiring. Tho white pony, the
companion of his pilgrimage. was standing by
the side Of its dying master: the whole furnish
ing a scene not untitled for the pencil. These
n,rt;c,l,re h,d c,nn NJ Tram.