Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-08
NO SO

II fspny " Sr wafer Scou The cnchant-
ing volume does not contain / more interest.
ing passage than Tie following. which ernbo-
dies several &c tho most characteristic traits
Of The man and the author, the perfectness
lof his narrative siyie,--his humor. racy aad
laughter moving. yet always that or the re6-
med gentleman.---his ertire exemption freu,
iconct't this correct appreciation OF his owu
merits as an aathor,--his philosophic indfIer-
ence TO common envons criticism, - the be,
nevolencs and kindness Of his disposition,
II refers 10 the period OF his greatest popa-
larity as a poet, just aiset the publication Of
the Lady Of the Lake Bali. Tymes
II may be that did nor, in this continu.a
course OF scribhl'og. consult either the snterl
est OF the public, or my own. But the for
n,er bad efectua, means of defending thsr-
selves, and could. BY their coIdness, sufficient.
ly check any approach 10 intrusion; and for
myself, had now for several years dedicated
my hours so much 10 literary labor. that
should have felt difficulty in employing INV.
self otherwise; and -, like Dogkerry, zen.
ercusiy bestowed all my tcdiousness on tho
public, comforting myself with the reflection.
that il posterity should think me undeseryins
Of the faver With which WAS regarded bv
my contemporaries, "thcy could not say but
what had the crown" and had eaioycd for
tune that popularity which 10 20 msSh coz
vetcd.
conceived, however. that held tho di,-
tinguished situation had obtained. however
ianworlhily, rather like the champion of ma.
gilism. on the condition Of being always rra-
dy to show proofs Of my skill. than in .hS
manner OF the champion Of chivalry. VIII
performs his duties only on rare and solamH
| nccasisns. was in any case conscious thai
could not long hole situstisn which the
caprice. rather than tho judgment, Of tho
public had bestowed upon me; and preferred
being deprived Of my precedence By sonS
more worthy rival, to sinking into centenps
iof my Incidence, and losing my reputation
by what Scottish lawyers call ths negaiive pre-
scripfion Accordingly, those who choose d
accompany me ilt,io farther In these rc-
marks, will be able to trace the steps by
which declined as poet 10 figure As 4 nE
velisi; as the ballad says, Queen Eleanor sunk
at Charing Cross to rise again at Qneeuhlthe,
| II only remains for me 10 say. that. dur,nv
my short pre-eminence Of popularity, / faith
| fully observed the ruled OF moderation which
had resolved to follow befsre | began nv
course as man oi letters Ii q man is dc.
termlned to r,ake noise in the world, ne Il
~ sure 10 encounter abuse and ridiculc. al
nc who gallops iariously through, d village
must reckon on being followed by ths ours ii
full cry Experienced persons know. tbat IL
stretching TO ilog the latter, the Rider il vsrv
apt to catch a bad fail; nor Is an attempt d
chastise malignant critic attended With Icss
danger to the author On this principle. I
let parody, bdrlesque and squibs. find thcic
ewn level; and while the latter Kissed moss
hereby, was cautious never 70 catch them
up, as school boys do, 10 throw then. back A.
gainst the naughty boy who fired them 81.
wisely remembering. that they are, id such
cases, apt to explode in the handle Let mo
add, that my reign tsince Byron has 80 call.
cd IT. was marked BY SEINE instances Of coed.
nature as well as patience. I never refused
literary person Of merit such services ID
smoothing his way to tine public a. were ID
my power; and had the advantage, rather
az. uncofnmon sge with our irritable race, to
snJsy general favor, without incdrring per-
manent III viii. 20 far as is known to mo, a.
niong any Of my contemporaries
Betwsea tho publication OF The Lady Of
the Lake." which was ~ eninently suceess-
full aud that Of "Rokebyn ia 1918, three
Years INTERVIEWED shall not. | believe, Do
accused oil ever having attempted ID usurp
superiority over MANY men sf. 9epius, nv
contemporaries; but In fSsint or popularity.
pot OF actual talent, tho caprice OF the pub.
llc had certainly given ms such teispprarv
superiority over uen, Of when, in regard to
poetcal fancy and feeling. | scarcely thought
myself worthy 10 loose the shoe latch. Cd
the other hand. il would bs aksura Affects.
tion 10 me 10. deny; that conceived myself
10 understand, mora perfectly than many 81
my contemporaries, the most likely mx0ner
to interest the great mas of mankind Yet.
even with this Belief. must trult and fairly
say. that ! always considered myseh rather
as one who held tho bets In time to be pail
over to the winner. than ~ having any ore.
tsncs to Keep them 10 my own right.
A thief was ono day discovered in the great
chamber, "a conrt Of justice in Parisj steal
ing purse. The court allowed tho knava
a conaseIlor TO defend him The advocate
went up stairs to him, and taking him aside.
els il true, said he. "ttiat you stole the purse
Of some6ady osw IN court?" III is very true.
sir, (replied the thief but ssHold vo,,r
tongue" said tho lawyer, ssthe best counsel
J ca1 give you Is. to scamper away a, fast al
possible Tho thief took the hiist. and ran
down The stair case. The counsellor return
ing afterwards into court, the first president
asked what he bad to say in defence Of his
client "Genilemen." replied he, s.the DOOR
wretch confessed his crime to me; and as he
was not guarded by any one. and was APP