Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-15
SATURDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1927.
LETTER OF SIR WALTER SCOTT,
Arow,ng the authorship of the wsverley Novels

tory OF the Italian stage are aware, tha' |'N
chino is aot in his original conception, mere
work of marves with his wooden SWORD, a JUN
per INFO aud GU, of the windows, as upon our
theatr~,-but, as his parry col7ured Jacket I'M
mics. a baffoon or clown, whose mouth, Tar from
brinc eterna'ly clos-d as amongst US, is hhrd,
lik that nf Touchs' ONE, with quips, and cranks
and ui,,y devices, very often delivered exem-
more I, is not easy TO guess how he became pos
srssed & his hack wizard, which was anc'en'>
" made in the resemb ance CT the lace OF cav;
blu, i, seems that the mask was essential 10 the
performance of the character, as VIII appear
fro The following theatrical anecdoIe' an
actor on the Italiln stage permitted al the
Foire do ST. German, in Paris, was renowned
for the wild, veuturous, AMI eHtraVagan' WIZ
the brilliant sallies and fortunate repar'ees,
with which he prodigally seasoned the chatac'
ter OF the party coloured jester. Some critics.
whose good will towards favoriie actor was
stronger than their judgement, took occasion
20 reynons,ra,e with the successful performer
ON the subject Of the gro,esQue wizard. hey
went willy to their purpose, observing that
his classical and attic w.t. his delicate vein oil
humour, his happy turn for dialogue, was rem
dsr.d burlesoue and ludicrous by his unmean
mo and bizarre disguise, ard that those. attri-
buJcs would become Far more impressive II
aided by the spirit Of his eye and the expire
sion ofhis natural features. The actor Van'-
~ wa, easily so far engaged as 10 induce him
N NIKE The experiment. He played harlequin
h,rae,ced but was considered on all hands as
h,virq made a total failure. He had los; the
andaclty which sense Of ihcognitn bestowed,
and with it all the reckless play oil ra'iie'y
which gave vivacity TO his orlsinai acung'
He cursei his advisers and resumed MS
g-o,esuue wizard; but II Is SAID, "ithou. ever
disguise had formerly bestowed Perhaps the
Author If Waver'y is now about TO incur a
risk Of the same kind, and endanger his popu-
laiIty by having laid aside hi, incognlto Ii Is
certainly nor voluntary experiment, like that
Of ha lequin; far it was my origin j intention
never TO have avowed these works during my
lfr,ime, and the original manusc scripts were
carrfuliy preserved, Enough by the care Of
Others rather than mine, with the purpose Of
supplying the necessary evidence of the truth
when the period OF announcing 1t should
rive But the affairs ofmy publishers having
unfortunately passed INTO management differ
ent from heir own had no right any longer
10 rely upIn secrecy in that quarter; and thus
my mask, like my Aunt Dinah's in Tristan
Shanly, having become little threadbdre a
bout the chin, il became time to Law it aside
with good grace, unless desired it should
fall in pieces from my face. Yet ] had not
the slightest intention Of choosing the time
and place in which the disclosure was finally
made; nor was there any concert beiwixt my
learned and respected friend Lord Meadows
bank and myself upon that occasion. 1t was,
IS the reader is probably aware, upon the 22d
February last; at public NEE ling, called for
establishing professional Theatrical Fund in
Edinburgh, that the communication took place.
Just before we sat down TO table, Lord Mea-
dowbank asked me whether ] was still an&
ious to preserve my incognto on the subject OF
what was called the Waverley Novels9 ] did
not Immediately see The purpose oil his lord
ships question, although certainly might have
been led 10 infer it, and replied, that the secret
had now become known to so many people,
that / was Indifferent on the subject.-Lord
Meadowbank was thus induced, while doing
me the great honour of proposing my health
TO the meeting TO say someI hing on the subject
of these novels, as by remaining silent, l must
have stood convicted, either OF the actual pa.
,ern,y, or Of the still greater crime Of being
supposed willing TO receive, indirectly, praise
10 which had no just lille. thus found my
self suddenly aud unexpectedly placed in the
confessional and had only time to reCollect
that I had been guided thithtr by most
friendly land, and could not, perhaps, lind
better public opportunity TO lay down DIS
gulse, winch oegan 10 reseIhs'e tnal ot ueteC-
ted masquerader. had therefore the task Of
avowing myself TO the numerous and respec,a-
BILE company assembled, & the sole and unaidcd
author OF these novels Of Waverley, the pater-
nifty OF which was likely at one time to have
formed controversy of some celebrity. Inow
think il further necessary TO say, that while
take on myself all the merits and dement's at
tending these compositions, am bound to ac-
knowledge, with gratitude, hints Of subjects,
and legends winch have received from yar,-
Gus quarters, ana Rave occasionally used as
foundation of my fictitious compositions, or
woven up with them in the shape of episodes,
I am bound in particular, to acknowledge tie
anrenii,tng kindn ess of Mr.. Joseph Train, SUI
perylsor of excise at Dumfries; to whose IN
wearied industry have been indebted for many
curious traditions and points Of antiquarian In
,rress. 1t was Mr.. Train who recalled to my