_Scott's Waverley._--Some years ago, a gentleman of my acquaintance, now
residing in foreign parts, told me the following story:--
"Once upon a time," the great unknown being engaged in a
shooting-match near his dwelling, it came to pass that all the
gun-wadding was spent, so that he was obliged to fetch _paper_
instead. After Sir Walter had come back, his fellow-shooter
chanced to look at the succedaneum, and was not a little
astonished to see it formed part of a tale written by his
entertainer's hand. By his friend's urgent inquiries, the Scotch
romancer was compelled to acknowledge himself the author, and to
save the well nigh destroyed manuscript of _Waverley_.
I do not know whether Sir Walter Scott was induced by _this_ incident to
publish the first of his tales or not; perhaps it occurred after several
of his novels had been printed. Now, if any body acquainted with the
anecdote I relate should perchance hit upon my endeavour to give it an
English garb, he would do me a pleasure by noting down the particulars I
might have omitted or mis-stated. I never saw the fact recorded.