_Hoax on Sir Walter Scott_ (Vol. v., p. 438.).--The reperusal of Mr.
Drury's hoax upon Sir Walter reminds me of another, which having escaped
the industry of, or been intentionally overlooked by Mr. Lockhart, may be
appropriately noticed in your pages, as pleasantly showing that even
"ANSELMO's" black-letter sagacity might be deceived; and that, with the
simple credulity of his own Monkbarns, he could mistake the "bit bourock of
the mason-callants" for a Roman Pretorium.
I allude to a small stitchlet, or brochure, of five pages, entitled "The
Raid of Featherstonehaugh: a Border Ballad." It was really written by Sir
Walter's early friend, Mr. Robert Surtees of Mainsforth, author of the
_History of Durham_, some of whose other impositions upon the poet were
printed in the _Border Minstrelsy_, or inserted in notes to his _Metrical
Romances_. Of this poem in particular, Sir Walter entertained so high an
opinion, that he has incorporated a verse from it into _Marmion_, and given
it entire in a note as a genuine relic of antiquity; gravely commenting
upon it in the most elaborate manner, and pointing out its exemplifications
of the then state of society. It will be found in _Marmion_, Canto I.,
verse 13.:
"The whiles a northern harper rude."