Scott’s Manuscript of ‘Midlothian' Given to Library

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 64, 17 March 1936, Page 10

Scott’s Manuscript of ‘Midlothian' Given to Library

EDINBURGH.—The manuscript of Sir Walter Scott’s “Heart of Midlothian” has been given to the National Library of Scotland.

The manuscript has for the past century been the property of the lamily of Sir John Cowan of Beeslaek and was last seen by the public at the Scott Centenary Exhibition of 1871. In conformity with a wish expressed by her mother, a daughter of tho late Sir John Cowan, Miss J. G. Topham has presented the manuscript to the Scottish nation.

The manuscript, it is understood, was presented to Alexander Cowan, who was in 1326 appointed trustee to the creditors under the bankruptcy of Archibald Constable and Co., as a token of appreciation for his services. He in turn gave it as a wedding present to his sou John.

Perhaps what is most interesting on glancing through the volume is to see the lyric of “Proud Maisie” in Scott’s own neat and characteristic writing, with only enough alterations to show that the author probably composed it on the page in the courso of his narration, and was not copying verses which he had previously composed.