THE HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN, one of the most popular of the Waverley
novels, appeared in June 1818. It is founded on the well-known incident
of Helen Walker, a woman in humble life, who refused to save her
sister's life when it rested upon her oath, but who, after her sister's
condemnation, undertook a foot journey to London, where, from the Duke
of Argyll, she procured a pardon and returned with it, again on foot, in
time to stay the execution.
The accompanying illustration represents the death of Captain Porteous,
a leading event in the novel. The scene depicted is the Grassmarket of
Edinburgh. The opening to the right is the Cowgate, near which Porteous
was hanged. Beyond is Edinburgh Castle, occupying the summit of the
lofty rock which rises precipitously above the houses of the Old Town.
The mob having ascertained that the sentence of death passed upon
Captain Porteous would not be carried out, resolved to become his
executioners themselves; and bursting the prison doors, seized on the
unfortunate officer, whom they hurried to the place of execution. While
a gibbet was being prepared, Butler, the clergyman who had been pressed
into the service of the mob, endeavoured to dissuade them from their
desperate design. Porteous protested that what he had done fell out
in self-defence, in the lawful exercise of his duty; but the enraged
multitude were determined on his destruction. Separated from the unhappy
victim by the press, Butler hastened from the spot, and casting back a
terrified glance, discovered a figure struggling as it hung suspended
above the heads of the multitude, and could observe men striking at it
with their axes.
*****
Our other illustration is of a humorous character. Mr Cruikshank
represents the visit of the Laird of Dumbiedykes to Jeanie Deans. When
a change of residence, from Woodend to St Leonard's Crags, was resolved
upon, Jeanie concluded that she would be released from the visits of
Dumbiedykes, but in this expectation she was disappointed; for, on the
sixth day after her arrival, the laird appeared at St Leonard's, laced
hat, tobacco pipe, and all, and, with the self-same greeting of "How is
a' wi' you, Jeanie?" assuming nearly the same position as at Woodend.
With an unusual exertion of the powers of conversation, he added,
"Jeanie-I say-Jeanie, woman!" at the same time extending his hand
towards her shoulder, with all the fingers spread out as if to clutch
it, but in so awkward a manner, that when she whisked beyond its reach,
the paw remained suspended in the air with the palm open, like the claw
of a heraldic griffin. "Jeanie," continued the swain, in this moment of
inspiration, "I say, Jeanie, it's a braw day out-by, and the roads are
no that ill for boot-hose."
"The deil's in that driv'ling body," muttered Jeanie, "wha wad hae
thought o' his daunerin' out this length?" for the landed proprietor
looked so unco gleg and canty, that she didna ken what he might be
coming out wi' next.
[Illustration: 058]
[Illustration: 059]