'If it should ever fall to the lot of youth to peruse these pages, let such a reader remember that it is with the deepest regret that I recollect in my manhood the opportunities of learning which I neglected in my youth ; that through every part of my literary career I have felt pinched and hampered by my own ignorance ; and that I would at this moment give half the reputation I have had the good fortune to acquire, if by doing so I could rest the remaining part upon a sound foundation of learning and science.' -Autobiography of Scott (1808). See page 46.

PREFACE.

This brief life of Sir Walter Scott, from the pen of Dr Robert Chambers, has been revised and supplemented, mainly by the addition of Scott's autobiography written at Ashestiel in 1808, which forms a charming and graphic record of his boyhood and early training. The boyhood and youth of Scott being treated with considerable fullness, the book will be found especially interesting by young people.

William and Robert Chambers lived in the era of the Waverley Novels, and it was a vivid recollection of the former, how frequently, as an apprentice bookseller, he had to visit Constable's in order to satisfy the insatiable demand for the early volumes of the series. Robert Chambers was fortunate in receiving the patronage and good offices of Scott, both in business and authorship, and the budget of material which the novelist gave him in aid of the Traditions of Edinburgh was a kindly and helpful act, of no small value to a budding author. Both brothers were also amongst the ten or twelve persons who went from Edinburgh to Abbotsford to be present at the funeral of the great novelist. It was natural, therefore, that they should make a study of Scott's career, and as young publishers engaged in building up a business in Edinburgh, take an objectlesson from the experiences of Ballantyne and Constable, who had

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY-Early Years—Rage for literary Anecdote

and private History-Pedigree of Scott-Robert Scott of

Sandyknowe-Father and Mother of Sir Walter Scott-

Brothers and Sisters of Scott-Narrow Escape as an

Infant-Fever–Happy Life at Sandyknowe- Visit to

Bath-At Prestonpans-Life at High School........

.Pages 9-33

CHAPTER II.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY continued-Under a Tutor-Dr Adam of

High School-Sent to Kelso-Miscellaneous Reading-

First Acquaintance with Shakespeare-Dr Blacklock-

Powers of Memory-Leaves High School - First Acquaint-

ance with Percy's Reliques-Awakening to Beauty of

Nature-At the University-Illness—The Law Ap-

prentice-Severe Illness-Country Excursions-Literary

Societies—Completion of legal Studies....

.34-61

CHAPTER III.

BEGINNING OF NARRATIVE OF SCOTT'S LIFE BY ROBERT

CHAMBERS—Ancestry-Anecdotes of early Years at

Sandyknowe—The 'Extraordinary Genius of a Boy'-

Anecdotes—Uncle Thomas—The Land of Scott...........61-72

CHAPTER IV.

Visit to Bath-Luke Fraser's Class—Anecdotes of Boy and

Button, and Green Breeks—Kelso-University-Meeting

with Burns....

72-79

CHAPTER V.

Adam Ferguson and William Clerk-Long Country Walks-

Apprenticeship finished—Visits to the Border and the

Highlands—Personal Appearance-Translation of Bür-

ger's Ballads— Tory Leanings—Disappointment in Love

- Marriage-Appointed Sheriff of Selkirkshire ....... 79-87

CHAPTER VI.

Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border-Lay of the Last Minstrel

-Habits-Partner with Ballantyne-Clerkship in Court

of Session-Life at Ashestiel – Marmion- Lady of the

Lake --Scott as a Publisher ..

.87-95

CHAPTER VII.

Removal to Abbotsford — Waverley—Guy Mannering-In

easy Circumstances-Success and rapid Production of the

Waverley Novels - Abbotsford described ............ ..96-104

CHAPTER VIII.

Scott made a Baronet-Home-life-King's Visit to Scotland

-Scott and Robert Chambers—Personal Appearance-

Constable’s Miscellany-Life of Napoleon..... .104-112

CHAPTER IX.

Extraordinary Mania for Speculation-State of the publishing

Trade-Melancholy Forebodings— Failure of Constable-

Ruin of Scott—Economy-Napoleon and Woodstock-

Death of Lady Scott-Avowal of the Authorship of the

Waverley Novels–Success of Napoleon......

112-122

CHAPTER X.

Tales of a Grandfather— Republication of the Waverley

Novels in a cheap Form decided on- -Conduct of Scott's

Dependents—The Princess Victoria --A Present from

Abroad-Success of cheap Edition of Waverley Novels. 122-128

CHAPTER XI.

Apoplectic Attack-Resigned his Clerkship-Creditors pre-