Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-21

have been received; and from the Courier of
the 10th ut. the following article is extracted,
which cannot fail to interest and CRAFTY the
| curious, as well as the American literary gen.
tleman. 1t is the acknowledgement of Sir
Walter Scott, that he is the author of the
Waverly Novels. The secret was divulged
at the Edinburgh Theatrical Fund Dinner,
on Friday, the 27th of February. In the
course ofthe meeting, the health of Sir Wal
ter was proposed by the Lord Meadowbank,
and after it had been drank, Sir Walter rose,
| and made the following confession:
"Sir Walter Scott said, he did not expect to
have revealed before three hundred gentlemen
a secret which had been remarkably well kept
for a great number of years.-(A hugh.)
Though he might have been put on trial for
this offence of which he stood convicted before
Lord Meadowbank, yet an intelligent and inn
partial jury would consider the evidence be-
fore they gave verdict against him; they
might perhaps give verdict Of not prOuen-
Idughter,) and not enter into the reasons
which determined him to keep 80 long silence:
perhaps caprice had great share in it; the
| fault he entirely imputed to himself; indeed, he
was afraid to thin k ofwhat he had now done
| look at il agair he dared not. But as this would
| 90 out to the public, he meant il TO go serious
| ", when he said that he was the total and un-
| divided author Of these noyels-there was not
| a single word written, except some quotations,
| or n suggestion made, which was not his own,
or what he had found in his own readng-
| Much cheering.) He would now propose, in
| the capacity of author of these novels, the
| health of gentleman of this company, he
meant his friend Bailic Nicol Jarvic.-(Great
! laughter) When the author of Waverly and
| Rob Roy drank the health Of Bailie Nicol Jar
| vie, they would all recollect the applause he
| received in the theatre, and they would no
| doubt, be inclined 10 give him some here
| cloud cheering.) "The health of Bailie Mic
| oil Jarvie. Mr.. Mackay, after short pause,
| exclaimed" My conscience My worthy
| father, the Deacon, had he been in existence,
wouldna have believed that siccan great hon
our should befa me, his son-that | should
have such compliment paid me by the Great
Unknown. have now borne my civic honors
| for eight years, and l trust that none of my
brethren in the council have given more salts
faction.-( Much laughter.) Before sit aown,
| | beg leave to propose the health Of CO The
Lord Provost and Magistrates Of Edinburgh"
-Uoud cheers.) Air, "'Twas within mile
of Edinburgh"
|
Walter, has made an avowal of the authorship
of the Waverlys. we are no more satisfied on
the subject than we were eight years ago, when
there was small excitement realized by the
thor of the Novels, which have been held in
such high estimation by ali the lovers OF i"eia-'
ture. As for ourselves, we were always sats-
fed that the Wavcrly Novels, were the pro-
ductions of the fertile pen Of Sir Walter, and al
| though hundreds have attempted TO prove that
| Doctor Greenfield was the writer Of them, we
have ever remained so sceptical, as to believe
| that the author Of Marmoa, the Lady of the
Lake, and the Lay Of Inc Last Minstrel, was
| their legal father. Others may say as much as
| this; and it is not improbable that many wise
one, when he may read the avowal ofWalter
| Scott, will exclaim, Z" knew how it would
| bel always told you so;' but we could, five
| wished, produce recorded evidences of our
| opinions, expressed some years ago, long be-
fore this paper was dreampt of-opinions and
| and evidences, which we have always adhered
to.
Ever since the publication Of Rob Roy, our
mind has been made up on this subject, and we
have from that period, been somewhat surpris-
ed, to find any one ready to doubt, that Sir
Walter is the author Of the Waverlys. We
J make these remarks somewhat cxultingly, as
the facts connected with them, flatter our vani-
ty, and pamper our pride of opinion. Some
years since, and soon after the appearance Of
the first Waverly, paper published in this
town, and conducted with much taste and abil-
ity, by a gentleman who now enjoys the hon.
ours Of literature, professor Goddard) UNDER
took to fasten the authorship of these famous
novels, on the brother Of Sir Walter, Mr. Pay
master Thomas Scott Of his Britanc Maesty's
Regiment of Foot, then stationed in Canada
and if we arc not mistaken, the gentleman for
several years adhered to the opinion, that the
paymaster was the author. Others ascribed
them to the wife Of the paymaster, whilst in
England the received opinion was, that they
came from the pen of Doctor Greenfield.
We are glad that the question "who is the
Great Unknown" has at length been settled,
by the declarations of the Great Unknown him
self, it will put an end TO all the heat and
speculation which has been. .evinced on the sub
ject. Among those who most pertna ciously
and warmly adhered to the opinion that Sir
Il.