Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-09
FOR III ENQUIRER.
,o

WALTER no more!
me iat arrival from Europe brings intelligence which
cannot but produce the liveliest ~sensibility throughout Tho
literary world. "The wand Of the great magician is bro.
ken,-he i0ustrious author OF Waverly is dead! Although
~ " g. .eeen, accounts were such as to prepare tho public
m"hd Tor such an event, IT is impossible TO describe the
emotions which the annunciation OF the death of Sir Wal
Ter Scott awakened. The accomplished and gifted poet
ne renowned and unrivalled novelist, has sunk into the
dsrk and silent tomb, followed by the regrets and tears O
The admirers OF worth aud genius i'm every land. Win
u a mas read with delight the spirit-stirring pages Of Mar
mion' or drunk IN the burning eloquencc OF Old Mortality
or wept over the cxquisitely tender pathos of the Heart o.
MID Lothian, but will be shocked to learn that he whose
nngn,y genius produced them, has passed forever from the
Gneq"ered and troubled scenes OF this mortal existence
How potent is the spell OF intellect! How awful is the
IPoWer1how unsParing the vengeance of Death, which
strikes down with indiscriminate prescriptions, the dull and
iiilterate peasant, the proud and diadcmel monarch, the
gifted and inspired son of genius
Irs,maS %05s %19o pul'a' rode, pauPorum tabOnas,
SO sang the most phiIosophic of The ancient poets, and ne.
yer was there a more affecting instance of this impressive
truth than that which we now record. But, although the
Author OF Waverly" has yielded TO the universal doom,
nus lame VIII be immortal: il will mock at the rsvages OF
hnic; ana through all future generations, Sir Walter Scott
VIII be regarded as the most remarkable man of The age i'm
which he lived, SO prolific Of great and illustrious names.
o"ch u man can need mo stored urn or animated bust
10 perpe'uatc his fame. His works will be a more durable
monument than any that the chisel of the statuary ever
produced NO man was ever endowed with higher pow
crs; no man was ever actuaied by a more ennobIiup and
generous ambition in the exercise OF his transccndant la
Tents, than Sir Walter Scott. lie seems 10 have adopted
The noble motto which that excellent and enlightened mo
49, .'"l fh VI Il OIluRdI nSCIlUeu upon MS cScUitCh-
con, "fhe talent to do good" the only talent worthy the
ambition OF Prnces or OF authors. Throughout the whole
OF ms vO'uIlnous works you may search in vain for one i'm.
pure thought or immoral sentiment: vice il not made TO
'lo'e hall It's deiormity by losing all its grossness,' but the
moral beauty OF virtue is inculcated in almost every page,
SIR waller Scott was the founder of a new school in that
most attractive department OF literature, in which he was
chiefly pre- eminent. He completely reformed the pub.
lie taste which had been viliated by the insipid and love-
SICK rhaPsodies OF Richardson, and the low and vulgar
scenes, with when the witty and humorous novels OF
Fielding and Smollet abounded. Who has contributed so
literally 10 the SUN of Intellectual enjoyment; who
has done so much 10 cultivate and refine the public
taste, and TO throw around The dull realities of life
the witchery OF romance, as Walter Scott? 1t is the
peculiar merit OF this great author 10 have blended
most happily the fidelity and dignity of history, with the
delightful creations of his warm and fruitful Imagination,
thus diyesting the grave muse Of history of all her dulness,
and decorating her with The lovely and fsnciful drapery OF
Poesy. But why add my feeble tribute of praise TO him,
to whom the universal sentiment Of the literary world has
long ago accorded the very first rank among novelists and
poets! Let his ashes reposc in peace, in the classic shades
OF Abbotsiord, and let The harp which yielded the most en-
chanting notes, when struck by the master hand Of Scott,
be hung upon the willows that weep over his tomb! Its
voice is busbed, its strings are broken, that master hand is
withcred! IYANHOE.