Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-15

pence 7 have Dwell much more than 20 anvj
m, rit Of nv own, il | confess tina. l am, and
have been, more Indifferent to success, or 10
failure, as an author, than may be The case with
Others, who teel more strongly the passion Tor
literary fame, probably because they are Justly
conscious Of better title toit. 1t was not until
had attained the age Of thirty years, that
made any serious attempt at Distinguishing my
self as an author & at tina, period, men SLOPES,
desires and wishes, have usually acquired some
hing Of de cisive character and are not ca
perIv and easily diverted into new channel
When made the discovery,-for TO me it was
one,-that by amusing myself with comEosio
ton. which | felt delightful occupation, l
could also give pleasure 10 others, and became
aware that literary pursuits were likely 10 en-
gage in future a considerable portion OF my
time. felt some alarm that | might acquire
those habits of jealousy and fretfulhess which
have lessened, and even degraded, the charac-
ter OF the children of imagination, and rendered
them, by petty squabbles and mutual lrr',ahi>
li,y, the laughing stock of the people OF the
world. resolved, therefore, in this respect,
To- guard my breast (perhaps an unirlendiy cri-
tic may add, my BROW with triple brass, and as
much as possible to avoid resting my thoughts
and wishes upon literary success, lest should
endanger my own peace Of mind and tranqull-
~ BY literary failure. Il would argue either
stupid apathy ridiculous atf2ctallon, TO say
tina, | have been insensibIe TO the public APP
plause when have been honorcd with It's tes>
limonies; and still more highly do prize the
invaluable friendships which some temporary
popularity has enabled me to form among
those most distinguished by talents aud genius,
and which venture to hope now rest upon a
4 A. simon Of mrs xyh
gave rise to them. Yet feeling all these adj
vantages, as a man ought 10 do, and must do,
! I NAV Saw, with truth and confidence, that
have tasted of the Intoxicating cup with mo-
deration, and tina, have never, either in con-
versa,ion or correspondence, encouraged dis
cussions respecting my own literary pursuits.
| On the contrary, / have usually found such to-
| Dics, even when Introduce from motives mosl
| fat,ering 10 myself, rather embarrassing ard
! disagreeable ] have now frankly told my mo-
tives for concc alment, so far as l am conscious
of having any, and the public will forgive the
| eeo.ism of the detail, as what is necessarily
connected with il. The author, so long called
| for, has appeared on the stage, and made his
| obeisance 10 the audience Thus far his con.
duct is mark Of respect. TO figure in their
presence would be intrusion. have only to re-
peat, that avow myself in print, as formerly
ir words, the sole and unassisted author of all
the Novels published as the composition Of the
author Of Waverly. do this without shame,
for am uncon scious that there is any thing In
their composition which deserves reproach, Ell
Their on the score Of religion or morality; and
without any feeling Of exu'ialion, bee ause, What
ever may have been their temporary success, |
| am we'll aware how much their reputation de-
! bends upon the caprice Of fashion; and have
| already mentioned 'the precarious tenure oy
which II is held, as a reason for displaying no
great aVidiy in grasping at the possession. /
ought 10 mention, before concluding, that TWEEN
| ly persons at least were, either from intimac y
or from the confidence which circumstance
rendered necessary, participant Of this secret;
and as there was no instance, to my knowledge,
OF any one Of The number breaking the conf
| dence required from them, am the more obi-
ged to them, because the slight and trivial cha
racter OF the mystery was not qualified to in
spirc much respect in those intrusted with it,.
As for the work which follows, it was medita-
ted, and in part printed, long before The avow-
al OF the novels took place, and originally com-
menced with a declaration that il was neither
to nave introduction nor preface Of any kind -
This long proem, pre6xed work intended
not to have any, may, however serve to show
how human purposes, in the most tlihing as
We'll as the most important affairs, are liable
10 be controlled by The course Of events Thus
we begin to cross strong river with our eyes
and our resolution fixed on the point of the OPP
posi'e shore, on which we purpose to land; but,
gradually giving way to The torrent are glad,
by the aid perhaps Of branch or bush, to extri-
cate ourselves at some distant and perhaps dan
eerous lan1ing place, much farther down the
stream than that on which we had fixed our
Intentions. Hoping that the courteous reader
will afford to known and familiar aoquaint.
ance some portion of the favor which he ex-
tended TO disguised candidate for his ap-
clause, l beg leave TO subscribe myself his obi.
ged humble servant,
WALTER SCOTT.
AJbotford, October !, 1927.
Ieliness -Ordjnary nersons neraIvepture