“I have been for about a fortnight in this huge and bustling metropolis, when I am agreeably surprised by a packet from Edinburgh, containing Miss Seward’s letter. I am truly happy at the information it communicates respecting the life of Dr Darwin, who could not have wished his fame and character intrusted to a pen more capable of doing them ample, and, above all, discriminating justice. Biography, the most interesting perhaps of every species of composition, loses all its interest with me, when the shades and lights of the principal character are not accurately and faithfully detailed;
* See “Life of Bishop Heber, by his Widow,” edition 1830, vol. i. p. 30. |
| LONDON AND OXFORD—MAY 1803. | 375 |
“As for my third volume, it was very nearly printed when I left Edinburgh, and must, I think, be ready for publication in about a fortnight, when it will have the honour of travelling to Lichfield. I doubt you will find but little amusement in it, as there are a good many old ballads, particularly those of ‘the Covenanters,’ which, in point of composition, are mere drivelling trash. They are, however, curious in an historical point of view, and have enabled me to slide in a number of notes about that dark and bloody period of Scottish history. There is a vast convenience to an editor in a tale upon which, without the formality of adapting the notes very precisely to the shape and form of the ballad, he may hang on a set like a herald’s coat without sleeves, saving himself the trouble of taking measure, and sending forth the tale of ancient time, ready equipped from the Monmouth Street warehouse of a commonplace book. Cadyow Castle is to appear in volume third.
“I proceeded thus far about three weeks ago, and
shame to tell, have left my epistle unfinished ever since; yet I have not been
wholly idle, about a fortnight of that period having been employed as much to
my satisfaction as any similar space of time during my life. I was, the first
week of that fortnight, with my invaluable friend George Ellis, and spent the second week at Oxford, which I
| 376 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
“On my return, I find an apologetic letter from my printer, saying the third volume will be despatched in a day or two. There has been, it seems, a meeting among the printers’ devils; also among the papermakers. I never heard of authors striking work, as the mechanics call it, until their masters the booksellers should increase their pay; but if such a combination could take place, the revolt would now be general in all branches of literary labour. How much sincere satisfaction would it give me could I conclude this letter (as I once hoped), by saying I should visit Lichfield and pay my personal respects to my invaluable correspondent in my way northwards; but as circumstances render this impossible, I shall depute the poetry of the olden time in the editor’s stead. My ‘Romance’ is not yet finished. I prefer it much to any thing I have done of the kind.” . . . .
