A GREAT MAN'S FATAL ERROR.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 148, 30 October 1847, Page 3

A GREAT MAN'S FATAL ERROR.

The death of Sir Waller Scott which took place at the Cape of Good Hope in the month of February last, leaves a solemn and striking moral behind it. The deceased baronet was the last of a family which it cost one precious life to create, and for whose perpetuation its founder would have accounted no purchase too dear, aud no sacrifice too costly. It was not sufficient for the head of that house, whose last member has so recent!) quilted the eaith, that he stood foremost in the ranks of celebrated men during life —that he secured immortality upon hit depar-

lore. Beyond the prodigal gifu of heaven, he esteemed the factitious privilege* of eaith, and treated lightly an imperishable wealth, for the sake of dross as poor as it was passing. The memoirs of the first Sir Walter Sco^t — albeit penned by no unloving hand—leave painful impressions upon the minds of all who have made for themselves the character of the great magician, as far as it was possible, from his undying works. If the history teaches an) thing at fill, it u one of the saddest lessons tl»at can be brought home to humanity — that of gigantic powers ill-used, of insatiable, though petty ambition, derided and destroyed. The vocation of Sir Walter Scoll was to enlighten ami instruct mankind ; he believed it was to found a family and to become a great landed propi ietor. To achieve the ignoble mission, the pout and the novelist embarked the genius of a Sbakspeare, and the result is now before us. The famil) in extinct, the landed proprietor was a bankrupt in his prime. Who that has read the life of Sir Walter, but has wept at his misfortunes, and inai verled at the sacrifices heaped upon sacrifices, fieely made, in furtherance ol a low and earthly seeking ! Heaven pointed one way, tinman frailly another,—" Be inighly amidst the great," said the former $ " be high amongst the small," w hispered the latter. He obeyed the latter, and lo ! the consequence. The small knew him nor, amidst the great he still continues mighty. The history of Scott is the history of mankind. We cannot violate the will, expressed or understood, ofHeaven, and be happy. We cannot sinfully indulge a single passion, and not be disappointed. The spiritual aud moral laws which regulate our lire are as constant and invariable as any to be found in matter. Had Scott not enlisted every thought, hope, and energy in his miserable aim at power and position, he would in all probability, have been alive to day. He was a hale and hearty man when the failure of the booksellers compelled him to those admirable and superhuman exertions which crushed and killed him. The failure would have been nothing to the poet, if the poet had not involved himself in trade in order the more tapidly to secure the purpose which he had at heart, for which he wrote and lived j The Spirit of the wise sits in the clouds and mock us. All thai Scott bargained for at the outset of life, he possessed for an instant before he quitted it. He cared not to be renowned, —he wished to be rich. To be spoken of a« the master of prose and verse was nothing, if the term could not be coupled with that of master of Abbotsford. The dream was realised. Money came in abundance, and with it lands and increasing possessions. The mansion of the laird rose by degrees, and child after child piomised to secure lands and house, as the founder would have them, in the possession of a Scott. Then came, as if to complete the fabric, and to ensure the victory, honours, and titles fresh from the hand of Majesty itself. Nothing was wanting, all was gained, and yet nothing was acquired. The gift melted in the grasp,— the joy passed away in the possession. With his foot on the topmost step of the ladder, Scott fell. His ambition was satisfied, but Providence was avenged. All that could be asked, was given, but only to show how vain are human aspirations — how less than childish are misdirected aims. Scott lived to see his property, his house and lauds, in the hands of the stranger : we have lived to see his children one by one removed. Is there no lesson here ? — English Paper.