“Have you seen ‘The Saxon and the Gael’? If not, you will find it a clever enough representation of Edinburgh a few years ago. A number of very capital anecdotes, mostly old here, but new perhaps to you. This much I say from having read half a volume, and from hearsay. There is come out another Highland novel called ‘Clan Albin’ which I have not seen, but which they say is equal or superior to ‘Waverley.’ Little doubt is now entertained as to the authors of that production. It seems a young friend of W. Scott’s sketched the story and outlined everything. Walter Scott inserted the humour and brushed all up. ‘Clan Albin’s’ author is not known. Old Johnny Pinkerton, on account of his notorious scurrility and hatred of Edinburgh, is suspected of ‘The Saxon and Gael.’ What a fecund fellow Wattie is! a long poem and two novels in the same year, besides reviews, songs, &c., &c., for they say Sir Guy the1 () is ready, or in the press. Most of my novel was written before I read ‘Waverley,’ but I fear the
1 “Sir Guy the Searcher”? Scott liked to quote that person, for he himself was always on the search for his missing papers, &c. More probably “Guy Mannering” is intended. |
| NOVEL-WRITING | 75 |
