(_To the Editor of the Mirror._)
Sir,--Since my last communication to you on the subject of the works, so
commonly spoken of as by the "Great Unknown"--"the Wizard of the North,"
and other equally _novel cognomina_, the veil has been withdrawn; we now
have the open avowal, both from his own lips, and under his own hand, of
the authorship from the individual himself, who has so long, and, as it
now appears, so justly, enjoyed the reputation of having written them.
To judge from what he says in the second volume of "the Chronicles of
the Canongate," just published--I mean in the character of Mr.
Croftangry,--it is clear that he is conscious of such slips and
carelessness as I have before pointed out. I am therefore at a loss to
understand why he should allow them to remain like spots that deface the
general beauty of his productions, as by submitting them for perusal to
the merest Tyro in grammar or composition before they were sent to
press, they could not fail of being obliterated.
It is surely no very good policy for an artist, jealous of his
reputation, knowingly to leave his works unfinished. Without, however,
detaining you, or your readers, by such obvious remarks, I shall resume
my task, hoping that you will be able to find room for the following in
your useful and entertaining miscellany.
In the first volume, p. 168, of the present work, we read: "She was once
the beautiful and happy wife of Hamish Mac Tavish, _for whom his_
strength and feats of prowess gained _him_ the title of Mac Tavish
Mhor." This kind of style would scarcely be allowed to pass in
Leadenhall-street. What is meant by _for whom_, with _his_ immediately
following, and then _him_ a little after? Does not the author intend to
say, that the strength, &c. of Mac Tavish gained him the title of Mac
Tavish Mhor? If so, (and there can be no doubt of it from the context,)
then he should have written the sentence thus: "_whose_ strength and
feats of prowess had gained him the title of Mac Tavish Mhor."
"He gained the road, mounted his pony, and rode upon his way," p. 183 of
the same volume, is, in the latter part of it, another curious phrase.
"He mounted his pony," says the author. May we not suppose he rode _upon
it_ too? But he adds "_rode upon his way_."
Again: "His reputed grandfather with his pockets stuffed out with Bank
notes, would come to atone for his past cruelty, by _heaping his
neglected grandchild_ with unexpected wealth," vol. 2., p. 87. We _heap
up_ wealth, but not _persons with_ it, for that would hardly be kind. To
_load one with_ wealth is a common expression.
"Is it possible that _the bold adventurer can fix his thoughts on you_,
and still be dejected _at the thoughts_ that a bonny blue-eyed lass
looked favourably on a less-lucky fellow than himself?" vol. 2, p. 136.
Such is the question put by Middlemas to his friend Hartley, when
speaking together on the subject of the interesting Menic Grey, and his
projected Indian trip. But how could he ask if the _bold adventurer
fixed his thoughts on him_, when it was the person addressed who
entertained the idea of becoming one? and how, if the _bold adventurer
was dejected?_ when he had already distinguished him, taking the words
in their proper application, as another individual in a general sense.
It is altogether a singular specimen of abstruse phraseology. Then "_fix
his thoughts_" "dejected at _the thoughts_." Fie upon it!
"Hartley fell a victim to his professional courage, in _withstanding_
the progress of a contagious distemper, which he at length caught, and
under which he sank," vol. 2, p. 367. If he withstood the progress of
the disease, how could he fall a victim to it? The author should have
said, "in his _endeavours to withstand_" or "_arrest_ the progress of
it."
"So stood the feelings of the young man, when, one day after dinner, the
doctor snuffing the candle, and taking from his pouch the great leathern
pocketbook in which he deposited particular papers, with a small supply
of the most necessary and active medicines, _he_ took from it Mr.
Monçada's letters, and requested Richard Middlemas's serious attention,"
vol. 2, p. 88 and 89. Who is _he_? _the doctor_? Is he not mentioned
before? And there he is left to stand without his natural support, for
_he_ has _taken_ it _from_ him. Does not the writer of this sentence
recollect "My banks _they_ are furnished with bees." I could add another
_take from_ to the page by way of note.
_The following I leave without comment._
"Judg_e_ment," vol. 1, p. 2; vol. 6, p. 6. and judgment, vol. 1, p. 85,
_a_ heraldic shield, vol. 1, p. 68; desir_e_able, vol. 2, p. 39.
As much iron as would have _builded_ a brig, vol. 1, page 68. A good
tune is _grinded_, vol. 1, p. 143. Butler and Mercer had both _spoke_ to
their disparagement, vol. 2, p. 289.
Worthy Mr. Piper, best of contractors _who_ ever furnished four frampal
jades, vol. 1, p. 45.
With the next morning I _will_ still see the double summit of the
ancient Dan, vol. 1, p. 229.
And then I _will_ find it easier to have you prosecuted, vol. 2, p. 169.
We _will_ be happy, if it is in our power, to repay a part of our
obligations, vol. 2, p. 222.
Thou art the fiend who _hast_ occasioned my wretchedness in this world,
and who _will_ share my eternal misery in the next, vol. 2, p. 229.
He found himself under the alternative of being with him on decent and
distant terms, or of breaking off with him altogether. The first of
these courses might perhaps have been the _wisest_, but the other was
the _most_ congenial to the blunt and plain character of Hartley, vol.
2, p. 256.
He inquired _at_ their superior for Barak el Hadgi, vol. 2, p. 263.
And inquiring _at_ those whom he considered the best newsmongers, vol.
2, p. 276.
He faltered out inquiries _at_ his niece, vol. 1, p. 20.
Your father asked none save _at_ his courage and his sword, vol. 1, p.
260.
The concluding (_of_) a literary undertaking, vol. 2, p. 1.
I would as soon dress a corpse, when the great fiend himself--God sain
us--stood visibly before us, _than_ when Elspat of the Free is amongst
us, vol. 1, p. 250. November 7, 1827. Oculus.[2]
[2] We are compelled to defer our Correspondent's Notes on his
second reading of Ivanhoe--Ed.
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