The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-06-10

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With the greatest respect for Scott, Tor
his manly, healthy tone. his genial spirit.
his astonishing powers, and gratitude Tor the
delight he has scattered over Europe, We
cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that. as lar
as the historical portion Of his novels IS
concerned, they have been Of very ques-
tionable utility. Not to mention Their IN
acculacies, which, after all, were not I'M
portant, inasmuch as for the most part they
were what might be called external inaccu-
racies, matters Of chronology and cotessr
locale, the picture being in the main, accn- |
rate, being true as to essentials, it ~ scarce
ly to be denied that he has damaged the study |
OF history in two ways: Firstly, in his in
fuence on readers; secondly, in his info
ence on writer's. In his influence on read
ers, because his entertaining style has made
them impatient at the more labonous and
conscientious study OF history, causing them
to regard serious work as "dry," making
them careless of facts, and more solicltous
OF pictures than of ideas; in his influence
on writers, because it has made them desl-
rous Of feeding this awakened taste, and
led them TO sacrifice the more honorable
portion Of their office to the vain attempt
Of rivaling him in picturesque effect 1t
: would be unjust To deny, on the other hand,
(, that Scott has done some service to histori-
cal art, in making men aware Of the pictu-
resqueness Of history, as well as in indica-
ting certain historical views with great sa-
gacity. Thieny, great authority, and an
accomplished historian, who is certainly
not open to the reproach of having shirked
the labors Of study and research, has delib-
erately pronounced Scott to be the greatest
+ OF all historical delineators. Had he emf
: ployed his varied erudition and keen histoIl-
. cal sense in essays, rather than in romances
! the good would have been nnallOyed; as il
:. is, we cannot acquit him Of having encour-
5 aged, if he did not originate, the evils above
Il mentioned. But if Scott, with his minute
y and abundant knowledge, has damaged his
tory by his employment OF it in fiction,
9 what are we to say to his imitalors! They
II have the worst of his vices, with none Of
u his merits They falsify history, they con.
y fuse the simplest notions, they fll the read
CT > Hlllu VIII u lHdSS Vi IuDDisil hutCh
J, is very difficult to eject by a course OF seri
II Gus study, even il they have not enevateC
81 the mind, and made it averse to study. Fo
ie observe, the error Of grave histOrian-anC
re the gravest and acutest often err--nay, ii
so difficult matter, it is difficult to avoid
al enor--is, nevertheless, easily replaced b.
al the mere presentation Of the truth; but
e. once the novelist has succeeded in fllinl
your mind with false but brilliant picture
it will resist long assault Of evidence tn
k most conclusive. The historian appeals L
p. the Judgment; the novelist enlists the sym
it, pathies and feelings and when once he sue
is ceeds in forcing his conception Of charaC
r. ter upon you, the most striking appeal
or your judgment will scarcely destroy tina
H. impression. Ii has been said that ''n
he knowledge is better than mis-knowledgC
de and the scraps Of history picked up from tn
in novel are just sufficient to mislead the il
d. dolent into the idea OF their possessing 81
n formation Either history is worth know
sr- ing, or it is not; il worth knowing, the
ne worth studying in proper sources VIII
sn that has ever opened the imitatoIs Of SEQ
lr- can for moment suppose that they unde
'ut stood anything Of histOry!-British Qua
90 terly Reuieio.