Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-06-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS:

'MoREpUs." A tale OF the 1910. BY Sir
Walter Scott, Bart. New York W.
Z. Fc,rdge & Co. 1855.
As far as we understand, The introduce
ton, which is signed by Z. de 81. Maurice
Cahauy, director general { the Societe des
Archivists in France, &C., this manuscript
was presented with this letter by Scott to
w. s., (Mr. Spencer,) to be given by him
to his almost ''dafl friend" who was an ell
derly German merchant of eccentric char.
acter, and friend of Maurice Cabany, who
had tho opportunity previously OF doing
him some service. This gentleman fell
into misfortune and died. Among the
wreck Of his valuable movables," says Mr..
Cabany, she retained a wriling--desk, which,
during his brief illness, he often pointed to,
and said with melancholy smile, il was all
he had to leave me, but that it would be n
more durable memorial than any sum he
could bequeath to me-"
The old gentleman had been often heard
to say during his lifetime, that he had, or
expected 10 have, a manuscript novel by Sir
Walter Scott, which had been procured for
him by Mr.. William Spencer After his
death his widow md daughter left Paris
Immediately, and NJ Cabany heard no more
of his legacy ill in September, 1854, he re-
ceived box with note from the daughter,
who stated she had taken the desk away in
advertently, but they had never forgotten
the bequest. They had delayed sending i,
in the fear that the expense would be great
er than its value.
NJ. Cabany received with surprise, after
this long interval, the writing-desk, on
opening it, he found i, to contain, besides a
singular collection of royasts tracts
package containing the manuscript, which
he now publishes as "Moredun, a tale of
the Twelve Hundred and Ten"
NJ. Cabany follows this state ment with
labored argument on the probabilities Of the
case, and attempts to refute the reasonings
which have been brought forward by friends
of Sir Walter Scott, and the journals in
England proving the improbabiIty and i'm.
possibility of his story being true.
We have not yet had time to form
judgment of The internal evidence in favor
or against "Moredun" being from the pen
of the great novelist. Most of the British
criticisms We have seen are decidedly un-
favorable to the claim. Our readers may
be interested to know, the foundation on
which the pretenson rests, and will feel
curious to examine it for themselves. /: it
hould however be found decidedly inferior
to other romances by Sir Walter, it would
not be proof positive against his being the
author. A work which he disposed OF so
lightly, and which he is reported as having
taken measures 10 prevent being published
with his name, he could not have thought
one of his best. At any rate it is literary
curiosity. II it is relic of the great mas
ter, it is certainly one, and if it be only a
contrivance of NJ +. dc ST. Maurice "a.
bany, Director General of the Society Of
Archivists in France, &C., &c, it is cer-
tainy farfetched and ingenious humbug.
whi, h will give him high rank among those
of his me who have attempted TO make
their fortune out Of the creduli'y Of the
public.
The circumstance that the work was not
brought out till after the death of Mr.. Lock-
hart, is not favorable to the claim of its au-
thenticity. But this fact is met by Mr. Ca.
bany with the story of the recent date in
which the desk containing the manuscript
came into his hands.