Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-11-30
Mlisfell
ORIGINAL LETTER or MISS EDGEwORTH on
TIE PUBLICATION OF "WAYERLEY"
From tie SalQ2ia, tEngiisAl Joars,ai.
EDeLwoRrHsrowv, ocroBrR 90, 1914.

we nave tins moment finished "Waverley- II read
aoud To TINS large family, and wish the author could have
Witnessed the impression il made the strong hold il seized
Oh ue feelings both Of young ard old; admiration raised
oy beautiful descriptions OF nature. and bodde
eaons OF character the perfect manner in which every
character Ia sustained every change Of from first
TO last without effort without the aiiecsto al ,n.kr, h
people speak IN character; the ingenuity with which each
person introduced in the drama made and necessary
10 Inc end the admirable with which the story il con
setea ana with which the auho. keeps his own secrets
VI ,ne precise proper moment wcnhoy should be revealed
whist III the time, skill Of Shakspeare The
'u prepared by unseen degrees, for all the changes Of
ieeing and fortune, that nothing however xraoinarv
snocks US as Improbable and the kept up q the
last moment We possessed with belief that the
"nOle story ana every character real that
could not endure the addresses of the author 10
ue reader They arc like Feldng but for reason We
cannot bear them: cannot bear that an auor of such
hgh powers, of such original genius should for momen,
stoop to imitation This is the only thing we dislike; these
are ne Only passages wish omitted in the whole work.
ana let the unqualified in which say this and the
very vehemence OF expression Of this dsapprobaton b
sure pledge to the author Of the sincerity Of all tie adn
rsuon tell for his genius.
have yet said half we felt in reading the work tn.
characters only finely drawn as separate figures hut
u are grouped with great skill and con;rased so arty
anu YET SO naturally, 10 produce the happies dramatic
erect and at the same time, relieve the feelings and at
lemons IN the most agreeable The novelty OF the
Highland world which discovered To our view rc;,ee on
Mostly an interest powerfully but, though is all new 10
US II does not embarras perpex strain the attention
"" never are harrnssed by doubts of probability OF nnv
OF these modes OF life; though did not know them we
are quite certain they did exactly az tey arc reure
sen'ed We sensible that there is peculiar meri, in
t-lc NeIh WHICH IS III lost tine
ualects OF the tighlanders and Lowander &c Butthcre
Is another and higher with which We are ms much
struck and as much delighted any te-born Scotchan
oud bie various gradatons Of Scotch feuda character
from the hghborn Cheftain and military Baron 10 the
nobie-mnded Lieutenant Evan Dhu robbe Bean Lean
ana the savage Calum Beg The PTeieader the Cheralsr
IS beautifully drawn
a Prince ay, every inch a Prince So
Ills polished manners his exquisite address poitenes and
generosity interest the reader iresby and he pea-es
he more from the between him and those who
surround hum think he is my iavorte character the
Baron BTadwardne is my fathers. IL thinks it required
more genus 10 invent, aud ability uniformly IN ss
tam tins character, than any OF the variety of mastery
Characters with which the work abounds There:s indeed
uncommon in the manner in which his dignity l.
served by his courage and magnauty in spite of ali his
pedry and ms ridiculss, and his bear and his booack
and ali the ra,ery Of McIyor NcIyo-,s uno ynoc,cJ 49,
and bootack made US laugh heartily
But TO return - the dear good baron Though nc
hho"iedge tna am not good Judge my father and
ofotnes are OF his reconcile learning and his law Latin
Ee' iee the hunor and touched the quick by the
strokes OF generosity, gentenes and patos in this old man
VINO 10y the BY Is all IN good time worked up into very dig
Tor the hero His exclamation of"On nv
SON my son. and the yielding the fictitious character of
the baron the natural feelings the father is beautiful
tEvan Dhus fears that his fahern.aw should die ouiev
the boouack.) 80 M
tinker, in the battle, pleading the cause OF the mare
E which ne mad sold TO Balmawhappe, and which had
thrown him for of the proper bit is truly comic my
father says that ihs and other passages respecting
could not have been written by any who
was NOT master both OF the great and lule horse
tell you, without order, the great and ,te strokes of
finor and pahos Just recollec or am reminded of
uei al TINS moment ny companions The fact is that
we have had the volumes only during the time we could
read them, and could read lent IN no ne
great favor by who was hap2v enough IN have secured
copy before the hrst and second editions were sold IN
Dublin When We applied, not copy could be had; we
expect one III the of week but We resolved IN
wre TO the author without waiting for a second perlsa
Judging oy our own feelings authors, guess that he
70 would rather know genuine first thoughts than
wait Tor cool second thoughts have regular eulogium
OF cueh put INTO the most lucid manner, and given in
, | the hnest sentiments that ever were rounded
Is possible that got thus without having named
Flora OF Nich Ian Nohr-h, last Vieh Ion Vo5r, Vet
our minds We're iu.l OF them the moment before began
TINS letter. and could YOU have the tears forced iron,
Us oy their tate, would have been satisfied that the pa
Il ihos went TO our hearts Ian Nohr from the rs, moment
ne appears u the last, admirably drawn and finely
II sustained ciaracter-new, perfectly new 10 the ENGLISH
reader, often entertaining, always heroic and sometimes
Suohe' ne grey spirit the Boddch GlGs thrills with
horror. U.s. What effect must il have upon those njer
the influence OF the supcrstons Of the Highlands This
cunistance Is admirably introduced Tins
weakness quite consistent with the strength of the cbar,c
ter, perfectly natural after the disappointment of all his homes
IN the detection Of his mind and the exhaustion his bod
J, y strength.
Flora, could wish never called Mss lLae Jror
because IN TINS country there tribes OF vulgar Miss
uacs and this association uniavorabc to the sublime
ana beautiful OF yoHT Flora; she heroine; her first
appearance seized upon the mind and enchanted us 50
completely, tia we certain she 10 be your hero
me ana me VIE OF your hero; bat with what innitlb
gradually the reader that she was NOT as
she said OF herself capable Of making ITqpeyley hmm:
leaving her full possession of our adninis,r ~,
hi made Us pity then love, and give our undivided
affection To Rose Bradwardine-sweot Scotch Rose Tho
last scene between Flora and Waverey is highly pathetic:
my brother wishes that bridal garments were slrord he
thnks It would be stronger and more natural because
when the heart Is touched, seldom use metaphor or
I I quaint alherauon--bTide Jdr0r-bTidai garment.
| There - one thing could wish changed cr omit
ted M foras character have the volume and there
lore cannot refer TO the page but rccoect, the first
VISIT To Flora, when she Is sing verses there Is
walk IN which the description o the place is beautiful but
too long, and did like the preparation for srcne
and the appearance of Flora and her harp was too like
roru he aNs. a. -.
b HOrclsfs trick.
these are, without reserve. the only faults we found or
can ma M tins work of We should scarcely have
thought them worth mentioning except 70 give YOU proof
positive that We not hatteCrs. Believe have not
nor can convey YOU the fu idea uf the Measure the
delight have had in reading "Waver.ey" nor of the
feeling Of sorrow with which - the end of the
history OF persons whose real presence had filed our
MINDS we felt That We must rcturu 90 the fiat realities of
me- and that our stimulus gone; were little disp1s
ed 10 read he postscript ciich should hare been pre-
/. face. "We, Ict us hear IT," said my father and Mrs
Edgcworth read on.
On my dear sir, how much pleasure would my father
my wnoie family, az well as myself, nave lost 10 had not
read 10 INC 1si p7gcand the pleasure upon
uncXpcct, dy-wC had been completely absorbed that
every thought OF ourselves, OF authorship was
far fvr away.
Thank YOU for the honor you have done ne and for the
pleasure you have given usreot iu proportion the OBJ
mon We had formed u the work We had Just pcrrscd-
ad believe me, every opinion have n Tins letter expires
cd was formed before any individual in the family had
Peped 10 the end Of the book, knew how much be
. owed you.
Your obliged and grateful
MARIA EDCEwORTH
~ lCH new uylc MuUstN De- AiNrs comprising handsome
I,IN shadc' 81 plain ~ wo PARIS Nio'n De- Laines