Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-30
v a kI TIE -
Old MORTALITY AND rnE Roma
RANTE FAMILY

pAUTE FAMILY.
The above celebrated parsonage ha. been i'm.
mottaized 10y tie author OF Nv Avetlyn in his a.,
series Of "rales oCMy I.andord,' and some psr,i.
enlars of hun aud his family may prove aceepia-
bic To OF our readers. The foilowin. an
nonneement appeared very recently IN several ol
the daily Journals -
Died. at Bang. parish oi Stroiton, Ayrshire,
S6'h OF January, Margaret Paterson, in her och
wear. She was the Oldest patishioner. aud daush-
tee OF the celebrated Robert Paterson. the original
oi Sir Walter Scouts odd Mottal,ty.'"
Previously to entering into particulars. it may be
necessary To observe that many of the waverly
novels, as they called. owe their origin to the
suggestions and researches of highly meritorous
individual, WIN, though poet Of 40 ineonsidcrab bic
merh Is best known to the world 10y his correspon.
dence with Sir Walter Scott, who greatly valued,
ana duly acknowledged the assistance derived from
his assiduous researches. In the works OF Scott
honouroble mention is frequently made of Mr.
Tram, Supervisor OF Exci.e. in reference To the
many literary and antiquarian favours received from,
him; and Mt LockhNrt, IN his Life of Scott" fails
not 10 acknow the services rendered in terms
due To- their Importance. one Of which may be quoted
IN describing MIR Trans first interview with Sir
Walter, he says--"To this intercourse with MIR
Tram We owe the whole machinery OF the Tales
OF NV Landlord ell as the adoption of Cayer
houses period for the OF some OF his first &c
tons" BE 1t observed. that in his labours for the
then "Grent Unknown" through period OF near
ly eighteen years, he was actuated by selfish or
meroenary motive; enthusiastic admiration OF his
uansoendant genius alone prompting. TO the toll,
His FIRST interview with Sir Walter was at Edin :
burgh, IN lsl6, when, after n cordial reception and
entertainment, MIR Tram snys:-"lIaving TO leave
town next day, Sir Walter said might rise early,
and amuso myself IN his library till breakfast which
accordingly did. HIS library was then very ex-
tens.yt; hri he made large additions to il after
wards. lis pictures on canvass then consisted chief
w OF Il iu'-cnglh portrait Of himself a fine view of
'he island a. Siat' with an original painting of the
celebrated Caverhouse, Vscount Dundee. was
examining this picture with much attention, when
SIR Walter entered the room. 'Claverhouse,' said
l. appears much more mid and gentle than one
could suppose, from reading the accounts of his nc-
tons, rs detailed by Woodrow, Cruickshanks or
any other ecclesiastical historian who has treated
OF the period IN which lac iived' mo man, replied
SIR Walter, has been more traduced by his hiSto.
rams, Ivy following out the superstious belief that
he RODE u goblin galloway, was proof against shot
and IN league with the deyilr | asked Sir Walter
II he might not, IN good hands, be made the hero
oi national romance as interesting as either Wal.
lace or the Pretender.' 'He might was the reply:
cut your 1eSfeTn =eaiois would require to be faith
iulIy PORTRAYED, to make the picture complete
Seeing that the subject pleased him, added
And II the story was delivered rs Il from the mouth
OF "od Mortality in D manner somewhat similar
TO the Lay at the Last Minstrel" IL would Ger.
tainly heishen the effect Of the tale "Old Nor
Utility. man, ,rho ras he ~ said Sir Walter hastily
his eye Frightening al the same time. And shall
never forget The intense anxiety he evinced whilst
related briefly all the particulars of that singular
individual could then recollcct. Proud of the
KIND reception had met with, returned To- Gallo
way, resolving TO use every means in my power to
serve M by collecting Evolutionary stories Of every
description, but more particularly what related To
the Covcnanters and 20 old Mortality"
Mr. Train, speedily fulfilling his promise, trans
mit,ed an interesting account Of "O.d Morta'itv,n
and several other matters Of value to the author Of
" w averieyi' IN return Tor which, SIR Walter, wr-
ting some time after and apolosizins or not sooner
thanking him Tor "lhe very curious communica-
tons" from which he had derived both instruction
and amusement, you will bc surprised TO find
Old Mortality has got into print. As n trifrg
return for your attention, aud presumng that the
tales will interest you, send copy for your nc.
ceptance, and shall 10 glad ii they afford you some
amusement" Such was the origin Ofthe TALES Of
my Landlord" In acknowled sment of some more
kind communications, Sir Walter, in 1929, says in
a letter. Your valuable communication arrived in
clipping time, and adds highly To- the Obligations
which your kindness has often conferred upon
me. shall hardly venture TO mention the extra
ordinary conneNi0u between the Bonnpiric family
and that OF Old Mortality, tell | learn from you
how u IS made out; whether 10y continued acknow-
Iedsment and correspondence netween the families
ot the two brothers, or otherwise. \ strain of
genius ltoo highly toned IN The old patriarch seems
In have run through the whole family. What "A
pity Cd Mortllity's grave canno, he discovered
! would certainly erect monumcnt to MS memory
At my own expense In reply, MIR Train stated
mat he had been prevented from answering his
kind Letter sooner, MIR Paterson not having drawn
up the account oi his family carly as promised
Il thought Il would lie more satisfactory To YOU"
adds MIR Tram, go have account OF his relations
~ Nmeuon, written b. himself. than anything |
could say on the subject Although yop will see that
what is a'ed IN the enclosed communication does
not Lmornt 10 positive proof of the Queen OF
WcS'ph'.a's father being the son of the Old
MORTALITY, ], Tor my o@n part, have 10 doubt
mat he was" The document here referred tn,
furnished Ivy Robert Paterson, Dairy, kIrcud-
r'shtsLTe, son Of old Mortality, then IN his
18th year, and who - yet alive, (IS29,) gives
u distinct account of his brother, John, sailing
m vessel called "'rhe Golden Rule of White
haven rom the Water Of Cree, in Galloway, Tor
America, IN the year IVA; Of his making con
siderable fortune during the American war, and OF
his afterwards settling al Baltimore, where he I'M
proved his fortune, married, and Uecpmc highly re
spectacle. lie nal a son named Robert after Old
Mortality, ms father, and daughter named Eliza
he'h, after hrs mother, whose maiden name was
Grey. Robert married an American lady, who
OUTLYING him, has become Warehouses Wellesley.
Elizabeth was married TO Jerome Bonnparte, and
aiter her separation from hlm, welded Mons Ser
rlrer the French Consul n: Baltimore. Ex,raor.
binary as these Circumstances may nppeAr Sir Wal.
ter was convinced Of the truth OF the statement and
declined publishing solely IN Difference to the Duke
Of WellingiOn-a iasidious dccacy on his part-
as there was nothing degrading IN bong descended
rom pious enthusiast, and il was we'll known
that the present Warehouses OF Wellesley was a
Mrs. Paterson 1t may tie necessary tn add that
Mr.. Tam Is still living in the neighbourhood OF
Castle Douglas IN cottage pleasantly situated on
the banks of a lake.
The above account Of the iasons Of the descen.
danis Of Old Mortality will II is hoped, interest all
those who feel any delight in peruslng the splendid
hcuons Of the "NoHhern Magician" C.P.J.
Cont Journal.