[Illustration: 014]
ON the 15th of August 1771, at Edinburgh, it is believed, Sir Walter
Scott was born, but his birth does not seem to have been entered in
any Register. The _Scots Magazine_ recorded only births in families
of distinction, and Edinburgh newspapers had not yet begun to notify
domestic changes. The Kirk-session Registers of the capital were indeed
well kept, but parents who claimed for their children baptism in the
Established Church were those only who systematically enrolled the names
of their offspring in the Presbyterian Records. The father of the
great novelist, Walter Scott, Writer to the Signet, was a member of
the Scottish Episcopal Church, in which, doubtless, his children were
baptized. He therefore ignored the Presbyterian registers; yet it is
sufficiently singular that, albeit a man of business of good capacity,
he was not careful to secure elsewhere a record of his children's
births.
Sir Walter was born in a house which has long ago disappeared; it stood
at the head of the College Wynd, and was removed to make room for the
northern front of the University buildings. On his father's side he
was descended from the Scotts of Harden, the elder branch of the great
Border sept of that name. In his personal aspects he much resembled
his paternal ancestry, his features being of the Saxon type, rugged,
massive, heavy,-almost stolid. Through his paternal grandmother, he
traced an old lineage in the Haliburtons of Newmains, a considerable
family of Berwickshire landowners. Of the Haliburtons he printed for
family use a volume of "Memorials," and he rejoiced, through his descent
from that sept, to possess a right of sepulture in Dryburgh Abbey.
On his mother's side, his progenitors were likewise respectable; his
maternal grandfather, Dr John Rutherford, was Professor of the Practice
of Physic in Edinburgh University, and his mother's brother, Dr Daniel
Rutherford, an eminent chemist, occupied the Chair of Botany. His mother
possessed a vigorous intellect, which she had successfully cultivated.
Of a family of twelve, six of whom survived infancy, Walter alone
evinced the possession of genius. Born a healthy child, he became
exposed to serious peril by being intrusted to a consumptive nurse. When
under two years old, he was seized with an illness which impaired the
use of his right limb, a misfortune which continued during his life.
With the view of restoring his strength, he was placed with his paternal
grandfather, Robert Scott, who rented the farm of Sandyknowe, near
Smailholm Tower, Roxburghshire. At Sandyknowe, he narrowly escaped
destruction through the violence of a servant who had become insane;
but he had afterwards to congratulate himself on having formed an early
acquaintance with rural scenes. No advantage arising to his lameness,
he was, in his fourth year, removed to Bath, where he remained some
time without experiencing benefit from the thermal waters. The three
following years were chiefly spent at Sandyknowe. In his eighth year he
returned to Edinburgh, with his mind largely stored with Border legends
derived from his grandmother, a person of romantic humour and sprightly
intelligence. At this period, Pope's translation of Homer, and the songs
of Ramsay's "Evergreen," were his favourite studies; he took delight
in reading aloud the more striking passages. In 1779 he was sent to
the High School, where he had the advantage of being taught by Mr Luke
Fraser, an able scholar, and Dr Adam, the erudite Rector. His scholastic
progress was not equal to his talents; he was devoted to romance, and
experienced greater pleasure in a country ramble, than in giving due
attention to the business of the class-room. As he became older, his
love of miscellaneous literature amounted to a passion; and as his
memory was singularly retentive, he accumulated a store of knowledge.
On the completion of his High School attendances, he was sent to reside
with relatives at Kelso; and in this interesting locality his early
attachment to legendary lore experienced a revival. Returning to
Edinburgh, he, in October 1783, entered the University. Here his
progress was even less marked than it had been at school. Mr Dalzell,
the Professor of Greek, spoke of his hopeless incapacity. The Professor
survived to make reparation for prophesying so rashly.
The aspirations of the future poet turned to a military life; but
his lameness interposed a barrier. At length he adopted a profession
suitable to his physical capabilities; in his fourteenth year he entered
into indentures with his father.
To confinement at the desk, irksome to one of his peculiar tastes, he
was reconciled by the consideration that his fees enabled him to add to
his library.
Rapid growth in a constitution which continued delicate till his
fifteenth year, led to his bursting a blood-vessel. While precluded from
active duty, being closely confined to his bed, and not allowed to exert
himself by speaking, he was yet permitted to read, a privilege of which
he largely availed himself. To complete his recovery, he was recommended
exercise on horseback; and in obeying his physician, he gratified his
own inclinations by visiting localities famous in history or tradition.
When his health was restored, he engaged in the study of law, which he
did seriously. After passing the requisite examinations, he was on the
10th July 1792, called to the Bar. At the age of twelve he had composed
some verses for his preceptor, Dr Adam; but he seems in early life to
have written little poetry, while his prose compositions lacked force
of thought and ease of diction. As an advocate his manner was not very
attractive, and both suitors and their agents had obtained the notion,
not quite unfounded, that the young barrister was more inclined to
literary than legal pursuits. Scott was not unconscious of the popular
judgment, and began to dream of independence in other spheres. He
thought of marriage. He courted unsuccessfully Miss Williamina Stuart,
whose mother had been his own mother's early friend, and who was
personally an heiress. She refused him, and with a heart stung
by disappointment, and ready to seek relief on the first fitting
opportunity, he at the rising of the Court in July 1797, joined a little
party of friends in a tour to Cumberland. Not long after, a charming
brunette at Gilsland Spa arrested his fancy and stole his affection. She
was an attractive young Frenchwoman, a ward of Lord Downshire, and under
the temporary protection of a respected English clergyman. After a
short acquaintance Scott proposed and was accepted. He was married in St
Mary's Church, Carlisle, on the 24th December 1797. With less haste he
might have married more advantageously. As it was, he was now free from
any apprehension about the means of living, for his wife, Charlotte
Charpentier, possessed an annuity of £200. His own finances were
materially increased in 1800, when he became Sheriff of Selkirkshire,
with a salary of £300.
While in his father's office Scott had studied French and Italian, and
made himself familiar with the writings of Tasso and Ariosto. Afterwards
he obtained an acquaintance with German ballad poetry, through the
translations of Mr Lewis. In 1796, he made his _début_ as an author, by
publishing translations of "Lenoré" and "The Wild Huntsman" of Bürger.
The attempt was unsuccessful. A second time he essayed his skill as a
translator, by publishing in 1799, an English version of Goethe's "Goetz
of Berlichingen." It was better received, but his fame was destined to
rest on a more substantial basis than on the art of translation.
The ballads and songs of the south of Scotland, preserved among the
peasantry, had at an early period occupied his attention. He now made
excursions to Liddesdale in quest of these interesting remains; and the
fruits of his research, along with much curious information, he gave to
the world in 1802, in two octavo volumes, entitled "Minstrelsy of the
Scottish Border."' He afterwards added a third volume, consisting of
imitations of ancient ballads, composed by himself and others. These
volumes were issued from the printing press of his early friend, James
Ballantyne of Kelso, who had already begun to indicate his skill as a
typographer.
In 1804, he published from the Auchinleck Manuscript, the ancient
metrical tale of "Sir Tristrem." In an introduction, he endeavoured to
show that it was composed by Thomas of Ercildoune, better known as _the
Rhymer._ "The Lay of the Last Minstrel," a ballad poem, appeared from
his pen in 1805, and obtaining an extensive circulation, procured for
him poetical fame and an immediate profit of £600.
Scott's prosperity rose with his reputation. In 1806 he was appointed
a principal clerk in the Court of Session, an office which afterwards
yielded him £1200 per annum. To literary work he henceforth dedicated
the intervals of leisure. In 1808 he produced "Marmion," his second
great poem, which brought him £1000, and materially increased his fame.
During the same year he edited the works of Dryden, in eighteen volumes.
In 1809 he edited the "State Papers and Letters of Sir Ralph Sadler,"
and became a contributor to the "Edinburgh Annual Register," conducted
by Southey. "The Lady of the Lake," the most happily-conceived of his
poetical works, appeared in 1810; "Don Roderick," in 1811; "Rokeby," in
1813; and "The Lord of the Isles," in 1814. "Harold the Dauntless," and
"The Bridal of Triermain," appeared subsequently.
After the publication of "Marmion," Mr Alexander Gibson Hunter of
Blackness, partner in the publishing house of Constable & Co., a
gentleman of superior culture, entreated the author to dedicate his
talents to prose fiction, with the prediction that he would in this
department attain an eminence unrivalled in literature.* Scott did not
readily accept the proffered counsel; he dreaded that by sailing in
unexplored waters he might make shipwreck of his poetical laurels. A
prose tale which he had commenced in 1805, was on this account laid
aside; and when it was again taken up and completed, and under the title
of "Waverley" given to the world, it was without the authors name.
This was in 1814, when Sir Walter was in his 43rd year. "Waverley"
sold slowly at first, but after some favourable criticisms the
demand steadily increased till twelve thousand copies were put into
circulation. Having attained such an earnest of success as a writer
of fiction, he chose in this department to maintain his original
_incognito_, abundantly content to rest his personal distinction on his
celebrity as a poet. The author of "Waverley" accordingly soon passed
into "The Great Unknown;" and the rapidity with which this mysterious
character produced a succession of entertaining romances became one of
the marvels of the age; while attempts to withdraw the curtain which
concealed his individuality proved comparatively unavailing. Each year
gave birth to one-often two-novels, of a class infinitely superior to
the romances of the past age, and all having reference to the manners
and customs of the most interesting and chivalrous periods of Scottish
or British history. Subsequent to the publication of "Guy Mannering" and
"The Antiquary," in 1815 and 1816, and as an expedient to sustain public
interest, a series of novels was commenced, under the title of "Tales of
my Landlord," these being professedly written by a different author;
but this resort was afterwards abandoned. Every romance by the author
of "Waverley" awakened renewed enthusiasm, and commanded a universal
circulation throughout Britain and America. In 1814 Scott published
an edition of Swift's works in nineteen octavo volumes. For some years
after his marriage he occupied a cottage at Lasswade; in 1804 he
removed to Ashestiel, a mansion situated on the banks of the Tweed, near
Innerleithen, where for several years he continued to reside during
the vacation of the Court. His ruling desire was, to acquire an
ample demesne, and thus to realise in his own person, and by his
representatives, somewhat of the territorial importance of those old
barons, whose wassails and feuds he delighted to celebrate. To attain
such a distinction he was prepared to incur many sacrifices; nor
in comparison did he value the highest literary honours. In 1811 he
purchased, on the south bank of the Tweed, near Melrose, the little farm
of _Clarty Hole_, the first portion of that estate which under the name
of Abbotsford has become indelibly associated with his name. The soil
was wet and unpromising, but by a course of agricultural appliances the
place began to display considerable amenities. The mansion, a curious
amalgamation of different styles of Scottish manorial architecture,
was partly built in 1811, and gradually extended with the increasing
emoluments of the owner. By successive purchases the Abbotsford property
was increased till the rental amounted to about £700 a year, a return
not too great for an expenditure of at least £50,000.
* See Letter from Archibald Constable to Mr Hunter's son,
David Hunter, Esq., now of Blackness, dated "Edinburgh, 26th
March 1825: Century of Scottish Life, Edinb. 1871, pp. 82,
83." Mr A. G. Hunter of Blackness died on the 9th March
1812, aged forty-one. His remains were interred in the
Greyfriars Churchyard.
At Abbotsford Scott maintained the character of a country gentleman. He
was visited by distinguished persons from the sister kingdom, from the
Continent, and from America, all of whom he elegantly entertained.
Nor did his constant intercourse with his visitors interfere with the
regular prosecution of his literary labours: he rose at six, and engaged
in composition till breakfast, and afterwards till one o'clock. While in
the country he devoted the rest of the day to exercise on horseback, the
superintendence of improvements on his estate, and the entertainment of
his guests. In March 1820, George IV., to whom he was personally known,
and who was a warm admirer of his genius, created him a baronet, the
first titular honour which he bestowed after his accession. Besides the
works enumerated, he had already given to the world his romances of "The
Black Dwarf," "Old Mortality," "Rob Roy," "The Heart of Midlothian,"
"The Bride of Lammermoor," "A Legend of Montrose," and "Ivanhoe." The
attainment of the baronetcy stimulated him to increased literary ardour.
"Ivanhoe" appeared early in 1820, and during the same year he produced
"The Monastery" and "The Abbot;" and in the beginning of 1821, the
romance of "Kenilworth," being twelve volumes within twelve months. "The
Pirate" and "The Fortunes of Nigel" appeared in 1822; "Peveril of the
Peak" and "Quentin Durward" in 1823; "St Ronan's Well" and "Redgauntlet"
in 1824; and the "Tales of the Crusaders" in 1825.
During the royal visit to Scotland in 1822, Sir Walter was, by general
consent, constituted Master of Ceremonies, and the duties he discharged
to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign and of the nation. But while
prosperity seemed to smile upon him with increasing lustre, adversity
hovered near. In 1826, Archibald Constable & Company, the publishers of
his works, became insolvent, involving in their bankruptcy the printing
firm of the Messrs Ballantyne, of which he was a partner. For the sum of
£120,000, Sir Walter was found to be individually responsible. On a
mind less securely balanced, the wrecked hopes of a lifetime would have
produced irretrievable despondency; but Sir Walter bore his misfortune
with magnanimous resignation. To both the establishments which had
involved him in their fall, he had been largely indebted, and he felt
bound in honour, not less than by legal obligation, fully to discharge
his debt. An offer by the creditors to accept a composition he
declined, and claiming only to be allowed time, applied himself to his
undertaking, with the full determination, if his life was spared, to
cancel every obligation. At the crisis of his embarrassments, he
was engaged in the composition of "Woodstock," which soon afterwards
appeared. The "Life of Napoleon," which had for a considerable time
occupied his attention, was published in 1827, in nine octavo volumes.
In the course of preparing it, he visited London and Paris in search of
materials. In the same year he produced "Chronicles of the Canongate,"
first series; and in the year following, the second series of those
charming tales, and the first portion of his "Tales of a Grandfather." A
second portion of these latter tales appeared in 1829, and the third
and concluding series in 1830, when he also contributed a "History of
Scotland," in two volumes, to "Lardner's Cyclopedia." In 1829 likewise
appeared "Anne of Geierstein," and in 1830 the "Letters on Demonology
and Witchcraft." In 1831 he produced a series of "Tales on French
History," uniform with the "Tales of a Grandfather," and his novels
"Count Robert of Paris," and "Castle Dangerous," as a fourth series of
"Tales of my Landlord." Other productions of less importance appeared
from his pen: he contributed to the _Edinburgh Review_, during the first
year of its existence; wrote the articles "Chivalry," "Romance," and
"Drama," for the sixth edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica;" and
during his latter years frequently contributed to the _Quarterly
Review_.
At a public dinner in Edinburgh, for the benefit of the Theatrical Fund,
on the 23d of February 1827, Sir Walter first publicly avowed himself
author of the Waverley Novels-an announcement which scarcely took the
public by surprise. His physical energies were now suffering a rapid
decline, and in his increasing infirmities, and liability to sudden and
severe attacks of pain, and even of unconsciousness, it became evident
to his friends that in the praiseworthy effort to liquidate his
obligations he was sacrificing his health. Those apprehensions proved
not without foundation. In the autumn of 1831, his health became so
lamentably broken, that his medical advisers recommended a residence
in Italy, and entire cessation from mental labour, as the only means
of restoring his energies. This counsel came too late; the patient
proceeded to Naples, and afterwards to Rome, but experiencing no benefit
from the change, he was rapidly conveyed home in the following summer,
in obedience to his own express wish, that he might close his eyes at
Abbotsford. The wish was gratified; he arrived at Abbotsford on the 11th
of July 1832, and survived till the 21st of the ensuing September. As
he had desired, his remains were interred in an aisle of Dryburgh Abbey,
which had belonged to his ancestors, and had been specially granted him
by the Earl of Buchan. A massive block of marble rests upon the grave,
in juxtaposition with another which has been laid on that of Lady Scott,
who died in May 1826.
In stature, Sir Walter Scott was above six feet; but his form which had
otherwise been commanding, was marred by the lameness of his right
limb, which caused him considerably to limp, and ultimately to walk with
difficulty. His countenance, so correctly represented in his portraits
and busts, was remarkable for depth of forehead; his features have been
described. His eyes, covered with thick eyelashes, were dull, unless
animated by congenial conversation. He was of a fair complexion; and
his hair, originally sandy, became grey after a severe illness which
he suffered in his forty-eighth year. His conversation abounded in
anecdotes of the old times. His memory treasured up accurately, and
could readily recall, all that he had read. In fertility of invention he
surpassed all his contemporaries. As a poet, if he does not possess the
graceful elegance of Campbell and the fervid energy of Byron, he
excels the latter in purity of sentiment, and the former in vigour of
conception. His style was well adapted for the composition of lyric
poetry; but as he had no ear for music, his songs are few. Several of
them have been set to music, and are frequently sung. But Sir Walter's
skill as a poet, great as it is, has been eclipsed by his power as a
writer of fiction; the _Waverley_ Novels will be forgotten only when
the English language is disused. A cabinet edition of his novels,
illustrated with elegant engravings, appeared in forty-eight volumes
shortly before his decease. Numerous editions were issued by Mr Cadell;
and Messrs Adam and Charles Black, the present possessors of the
copyright, have distinguished themselves not only by producing several
elegant library editions, but by placing within reach of the humblest
artisan those instructive, interesting, and admirable works. From a
gentleman, who was many years manager of Mr Cadell's publishing house,
we have received some details respecting the production of Sir Walter's
publications, which seem worthy of being recorded. Down to October 1856
there had, writes our informant, been printed of his Works and Life,
7,967,369 volumes, in which had been used 99,592 reams of paper,
weighing 1245 tons. Mr Cadell's "People's Editions" exhausted 227,631
reams, or 2848 tons. The gross weight of paper in Mr Cadell's original
and cheap editions amounted to 4093 tons. The sheets of paper used in
the entire works were 106,542,438, which, laid side by side, would cover
3363 square miles.
Sir Walter Scott lived at a period when indifference to religion among
men of letters, even in Scotland, was by no means uncommon, and many of
his contemporaries were, it is to be feared, most imperfectly
influenced with proper views of Christian obligation. With sentiments of
indifference on a theme so important, Sir Walter had no sympathy. While
contemning sectarian exclusiveness, and abhorring superstition, he was
zealous in maintaining sound Scriptural doctrine, and he discouraged the
utterance of every sentiment which savoured of profanity or bordered on
scepticism. His "Religious Discourses," published anonymously, indicate
deep moral earnestness, while his hymn on the "Day of Judgment" attests
the sincerity of his devotion.
Desirous that these brief memorials might contain some additional
testimony to the religious earnestness of one who occupies so prominent
a place in national and literary history, we requested our venerated
friend Dean Ramsay to state his impressions of Sir Walter's personal
bearing during his residence at Abbotsford after Lady Scott's death, and
before her funeral. To our request the Dean, with his usual courtesy,
acceded. He writes thus:
"You ask me the impression left on my mind by my visit to Abbotsford on
the occasion of Lady Scott's death. It is indeed a very easy and a very
pleasing office to give you that impression. I could not but feel all
the time I was there that our great Sir Walter was as much to be loved
for the qualities of his heart as he had been admired for the high gifts
of his intellect and his genius. He displayed throughout the whole time
the subdued and calm spirit of a Christian mourner. There was manifest
an entire acquiescence in the wisdom and goodness of his heavenly
Father, who had bereaved him of the wife and companion of his early
years. His kind, gentle manner to his domestics; his devoted attention
to his daughter, who was in deep distress; his serious appearance during
the funeral service; his own proposal in the evening to have domestic
worship, and his devotional manner at the time, have left a deep and
pleasing impression on my mind--the impression that I had witnessed
so much gentleness and so much right feeling, which, I could not but
perceive, were the genuine emotions of his heart. Sir Walter Scott was
one of the good and the great of his race and country."
During his last illness, Sir Walter desired portions of the New
Testament and of the Church Service to be frequently read to him, and
when free of pain he repeated portions of the Scottish version of the
Psalms and of evangelical hymns. To Mr Lockhart, his son-in-law, he
said: "Be a good man-be virtuous-be religious-be a good man! Nothing
else will give you any comfort when you come to lie here." These were
among his last words.
For sterling integrity, Sir Walter Scott requires no eulogy from his
biographer. To the effort to cancel his pecuniary obligations he fell a
martyr; while to his survivors it was a source of satisfaction to know
that, by his extraordinary exertions, the policy of life insurance
payable at his death, and the sum of £30,000 given by Mr Cadell for
copyrights, his debt was fully discharged.
The object of his original ambition, Sir Walter did not attain: no
family of his descent and name has been planted at Abbotsford to point
to him as their founder. His children, two sons and two daughters, died
young. His eldest daughter, Sophia, married to Mr Lockhart, gave birth
to several children, all of whom are dead. Her only daughter married Mr
James Hope, Q.C., who has added to his patronymic the name of Scott, and
made Abbotsford his autumnal residence. Mrs Hope Scott died at Edinburgh
on the 26th October 1858, leaving three children. One child, a daughter,
Mary Monica, survives, Sir Walter's only living descendant.
But Sir Walter has obtained posthumous honours far exceeding those of
establishing a landed family in Tweedside. His name is imperishable in
his works-of which the popularity is steadily on the increase. Nor have
his fellow-countrymen lacked in evincing their vigorous appreciation.
Besides several local memorials of respectable construction, the
most graceful monument ever raised by human instrumentality, has been
dedicated to his memory.
An account of that monument will form no inappropriate sequel to the
present narrative. On the 24th day of September 1832, being the third
day after Sir Walter's death, a circular letter was issued convening a
meeting at the Rooms of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, to consider
the best means of honouring his memory. At this meeting a committee was
appointed to arrange a convocation of the citizens. This took place on
the 5th of October, under the presidency of the Lord Provost, when a
resolution in favour of a national monument to Sir Walter, was moved by
the Duke of Buccleuch, and seconded by Lord Rosebery. Sir John Forbes,
Bart., announced that the Bank of Scotland and other banks in Edinburgh,
Sir Walter's creditors, would subscribe £500, in token of their
appreciation of the honourable feelings which induced the deceased
Baronet to dedicate his talents in insuring the full payment of his
debts. Differences arose as to the character of the monument By a
London Committee, of which the Bishop of Exeter and Sir Robert Peel were
conspicuous members, nearly £10,000 were collected. A portion of
this sum was embezzled by a young person unhappily intrusted with the
secretaryship. The balance, amounting to nearly £8000, was employed in
liquidating the debt on the library and museum at Abbotsford. At Glasgow
the subscriptions amounted to about £1200, and a handsome Corinthian
column, surmounted with a statue, has been erected in the chief square
of that city, which is likewise adorned with elegant monuments to royal
personages and national celebrities.
In the market-place at Selkirk, a statue in freestone, by Handyside
Ritchie, commemorates Sir Walter in his capacity of Sheriff of "The
Forest."
In November 1833, the Edinburgh committee had collected £5534, a sum
sufficient to insure the construction of a substantial cenotaph. The
question of a site arose next. Among those suggested were the space in
the Lawn Market, bounded on the east by St Giles' Church; the west end
of Princes Street opposite to St John's Church; the foot of St David
Street near Queen Street Gardens; the open space at Picardy Place;
the rocky angle at the north-east corer of the Calton Hill; Charlotte
Square, Moray Place, and Randolph Crescent. The committee suspended
their decision, and in thirty-two newspapers advertised for designs.
These were lodged with the secretary on the 1st September 1836.
Fifty-five were offered. For each of the three best the committee
adjudged prizes of fifty guineas. One of these bore the signature
"John Morvo," the name of a master mason, commemorated in the abbey of
Melrose. It was assumed by George Meikle Kemp, then a working joiner.
Kemp had studied the peculiarities of Gothic architecture in different
parts of the kingdom, and latterly added to his emoluments by
architectural sketching.
The committee, not quite satisfied with any of the designs received,
advertised a second time. Among those who joined in the new competition
were Sir William Allan, David Roberts, R.A., and William H. Playfair,
the well-known architect. Kemp lodged his former design, considerably
amended. It was adopted by the committee on a majority of twenty-one to
ten, in April 1838. At the same time Mr John Steell, the distinguished
sculptor, was commissioned to prepare a marble statue of Sir Walter,
to be placed under the canopy of the structure. The site was fixed in
Princes Street, opposite to South St David Street. The architect
had designed the monument to reach the height of 180 feet, but the
committee's funds did not justify their proceeding on so large a scale.
In May 1840 an auxiliary committee undertook to procure the balance.
An Act of Parliament securing the site having been obtained, the
foundation stone was, on the 15th August 1840, laid by Sir James Forrest
of Comiston, Bart., Lord Provost of the city, and Grand Master Mason.
A metallic plate deposited in the foundation stone bore the following
inscription, composed by Lord Jeffrey: "This graven plate, deposited in
the base of a votive building on the 15th day of August 1840, and never
likely to see the light again till all the surrounding structures are
crumbled to dust by the decay of time or by human or elemental violence,
may then testify to a distant posterity that his countrymen began on
that day to raise an effigy and architectural monument to the memory of
Sir Walter Scott, part., whose admirable writings were then allowed to
have given more delight and suggested better feeling to a larger class
of readers in every rank of society, than those of any other author,
with the exception of Shakspeare alone, and which were therefore thought
likely to be remembered long after this act of gratitude on the part of
the first generation of his admirers should be forgotten. He was born
at Edinburgh, 15th August 1771, and died at Abbotsford 21st September
1832."
The monument was, at the cost of upwards of £1500, founded on the solid
rock, fifty-two feet under the level of Princes Street. It assumes the
form of a Gothic spire, and may be thus described. From each corner of a
raised platform of masonry rise elegantly clustered columns, from which
spring four grand Early English arches, which converge into a vaulted
roof crossing each other by ribbed groinings with beautifully-carved
bosses, and terminating in a richly ornamented pendant or drop centre.
The arches are successively supported by projecting buttresses also
arched upon clustered columns, and after ascending to the first gallery
spring into the open air to the height of ninety-eight feet, and
terminate in pinnacles carved with crockets and crowned with richly
ornamented finials. The connecting buttresses are decorated with large
niches adorned with brackets and canopies, and each of the abutment
towers at the height of the first gallery has two chaste and
tastefully-wrought gargoyles in the form of grotesque griffins. The
pilasters which separate the different clustered pillars that support
the roof of the structure, are crowned with finely-ornamented capitals,
containing likenesses of sixteen Scottish poets.
The lateral towers are connected with the central one by means of flying
buttresses, and with spandrils and crockets. The four principal arches
and buttresses sustain an open trellis, which extends round the building
in front of the first gallery. On a level with this gallery is an
apartment used as a Waverley Museum. From the gallery rises the
principal tower. On each side is an arched window. A flying staircase
leads to the third gallery. Around are towers, buttresses, pinnacles,
arches, crockets, corbels and finials-in all the rich profusion of
Gothic architecture. On reaching the fourth gallery the view is grand in
the extreme. At each successive stage are elegantly-sculptured niches,
intended for statues illustrative of the poet's works. The height of the
Monument (increased beyond the original design) is two hundred feet six
inches above the level of Princes Street. It is ascended by 289 steps.
The monumental statue under the canopy represents Sir Walter in a
sitting attitude, with the ample folds of a Scottish plaid hanging
loosely about him, and his favourite hound Maida at his feet. Mr Steell
has seized the moment when the great novelist has just recorded some of
his imperishable thoughts in the volume which is in his hand, and he has
communicated to the features a look of complete abstraction, while the
dog, as if startled by the closing of the book, is in the act of lifting
up its head to catch the expression of its master's countenance. The
statue was inaugurated in 1846. The block of marble from which it was
chiselled, contained 200 cubic feet, and weighed upwards of 25 tons. The
monument is constructed of sandstone from Binny Quarry. The funds raised
by the original and auxiliary committees amounted to £17,243, 4s. The
sum of £1871, 12s. 8d., was expended in procuring subscriptions. For the
statue, Mr Steell received £2000-eight small statues cost £179, 5s.
10d. a sum of £460, 3s. 5d. was lost by a contractor, and a railing was
constructed at the expense of £147, 13s. 6d. The balance, amounting to
£13,584, 8s. 6d., was expended in the monumental fabric.
Persevering as were their labours, the auxiliary committee were unable
to procure funds sufficient to provide statues for all the niches.
Thirty niches are still unoccupied, but Mr James Ballantyne, the
esteemed Scottish poet, is now exerting himself to complete the work.
The sum of £2000, Mr Ballantyne believes, will suffice to provide the
remaining statues.
On the memory of Sir Walter Scott is to be conferred a new honour. There
is to be a centenary celebration of his birth. All classes, including
the most illustrious, have resolved, on the hundredth anniversary of
his natal day, co testify their hearty appreciation. His praise will be
celebrated in every town--descanted on in every hamlet His poetry will
be rehearsed in scenes which his poetical descriptions have rendered
famous; and in every spot celebrated by his pen, flying banners and an
assembled population will testify to the potency of his' enchantment.
The keenest trader will for a time sacrifice before the shrine of
genius; abandoning his counting-house and his ledger to do reverence
to the memory of one whose writings have cheered his home circle, and
amidst corroding cares awakened within him pleasurable emotions.
Nor may the ordinary caviller begrudge the tribute. Of these centenary
honours three Britons only have been deemed worthy; Shakspeare, Burns,
and Walter Scott. All these have exalted and purified human nature,
and, by the force and splendour of their genius, fitted mankind more
fully to appreciate and enjoy the forthgivings of a higher and nobler
inspiration.
[Illustration: 026]