EDINBURGH IN THE TIME OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 78

EDINBURGH IN THE TIME OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.

The personality of one not unfittingly described as "the best-loved Scotsman who ever lived." retains its attractions in spite of the flight of time, and a volume which is largely biographical in its incidence, will not fail to appeal to readers who surrender themselves willingly to the glamour of his name. Scotsmen (says the Leader) will follow with interest the description of the changes which have taken place in t-ho city with which his memory is associated, but the personal note will engage the widest attention. Still, in view of the fulness of previous biography, especially the Life by Lockhart, which remains to the present day among the most successful essays in this branch of literature, Mr W. T. Fyfe was wise in his resolve to treat the subject in a new aspect. The stories of Scott's early period -gain additional vitality by the account which is given of the conditions by which he was surrounded and the people with whom he was brought into contact. In the introductory notice, by Mr Robert S. Rait, it is claimed that in the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of tlie nineteenth — from, approximately, the death of Samuel Johnson in 1784 to that of Walter Scott in, 1832 — Edinburgh, rather than London, was the intellectual centre of the kingdom. Included in the Edinburgh society with which Scott was acquainted were men like Robertson, the historian of Charles V; Hugh Blair ; John Home, the author of "Douglas" ; Henry Mackenzie, "The Man of Feeling"; John Leyden, Dugald Stewart, John Wilson, "Christopher North," and others less prominent. From other sources besides "Lockhart's Life of Scott" it lias been possible to compile a skilfullydra'wn picture of Edinburgh when the Wizard of the North was in the full play of intellectual activity.

The Edinburgh of WaJter Scott's infancy was still the old, romantic, mediaeval city of which we get glimpses in many of his stories. The city wall, constructed as a defence against the constantly-recurring danger of English invasion, was in existence, and the old fashion remained of dwelling within the limits of the fortification and building the houses an enormous height, some of them as high as 12 storeys or more. The quaint old arrangements had hardly been impaired, even up to the year of Marmion. What Scott called "mine own romantic town" was indeed full of romance in every quarter, for the city improvements, which have involved a ruthless sacrifice of antiquity, were in his days hardly in the process of contemplation. The College Wynd, now known as Guthrie street, was a picturesque mediaeval lane, with juiting balconies, battkmented roofs, and charming old windows. It was in one of the houses at the top of the Wynd, demolished in the course of improvements, that Walter Scott was born, on 15th August, 1771. His father was a respected solicitor or writer for the Signet, and held a position in society which brought him in contact with many notable ueoule. Throuch iUnc£« in infancy Wal-

ter Scott contracted a lameness whicfi lasted through life, but, being sent to a" relative in the. country, he grew up a healthy, high-spirited, and sturdy child. In his school days he was brought under the excellent influence of Alexander Adam, the Rector of the High School. He was. but a boy of 13 when he entered the University, and had little disposition for the classics. Indeed, he was resolved not to leaTn Greek at all, and was known in the class as the "Greek Blockhead." At the end of the session he wrote am essay to prove the inferiority of Homer to Ariosto. This whimsical idea he defended with such force as to nouse his professor's indignation, but, while reproving the foolish presumption of the young critic, he honestly expressed his surprise at the quantity of out-of-the-way know lledge which the boy displayed. Instead of complimenting and flattering the genius ho denounced him, saying that dunce he was, and dunce he would remain. The good judge handsomely reversed and recalled this verdict in after years "over a bottle of Burgundy at our literary club at Fortune's, of which he was a distin-' guished member."

It was about 1785-1786 that Walter Scott'," at his father's desire, "entered upon the dry and barren wilderness of forms and. conveyances." Although having little liking for the profession, feeling that "his parts ill suited law's dry, musty arts," he surrendered his personal feelings to the parental wish, and honestly gave his mind to the work. But he had time to devote to other matters, and mixed in congenial society. It was at this time he saw at a> distance "the boast of Scotland, Robert Burns." In a letter Io Lockhart, he says : — I saw him one day at the late venerable Professor Fergusson's, where there were several gentlemen, of literary reputation, among whom I remember the celebrated Mr Dugald Stewart. Of course, we youngsters eat silent, looked and listened. The only thing which I remember was remarkable in Burns's manner was the effect produced on bin* by a print of Bunbury's representing a (soldier lying dead on the snow, his dog; sitting in misery on the one side, on the other his widow with a child in her

These lines were written be-

neath : Cold on Canadian hills or Minden's plain. Perhaps that parent wept her soldier slain, Bent o'er her babe, her ey« dissolved in dew:l The big drops mingling with the milk h0

drew, Gave the sad presage of his future years. The child of misery baptised in tears. Burns seemed much affected by the" print, or rather by the ideas which it suggested to his mind. He actually! shed tears. He asked whose the lines were, and it chanced that nobody bat myself rememberd that they occurred in a half-forgotten poem by Langhorne, called by the unpromising title of "The Justice of the Peace." I whispered my, information to a friend present, who mentioned it to Burns, who rewarded me with a look and a word which, though of mere civility, I then received and still recollect with very great plea-

' Interesting anecdotes are given of some 1 of the eminent men who were prominent ) at the time when Scott was living in Edinburgh. Among these- was Dr William Robertson, to whom reference was mode in j "Guy Mannering" as "our historian of J Scotland, of the Continent, and of Ame— ! rica." He had a long and illustrious ' career, almost wholly connected with ! Edinburgh. He is described in his old age as "a pleasant-looking old mas, with an eye of great vivacity and intelligence, a large projecting chin, small hearing trumpet, fastened 1 by a black ribbon to a button-hole of his coat, and a rather large wig, powdered and curled." Dr Erskine, the son of the famous lawyer, whose greai work, the "Institutes of the Law of Scotland," is still. an authority, was associatedl with Dr Robertson at Greyfriars Church. Though of notorious difference in regard! to church government, the two good men never lost fe>r a moment their personal regard or esteem for each other. Cockburn- relates a characteristic anecdote of Erskine : — His friend Harry Erskine had once some interest in a Fife election, but whether as a candidate or not I can't say, in which the doctor had a vote. Being too old and feeble '( to bear the irotion of a carriage or of a .boat, he ! was neither asked nor expected ito attend, but loving Harry Erskine, and knowing that victories depended on single votes, he determined to> walk : the whole way round by Stirling. ' bridge, which would have taken Him at least a fortnight, and he was only, prevented from doing so, after having arranged all his stages, by, the contest having been unexpectedly, given up. Similar sacrifices were familiar to the heroic and affectionate old 1 gentleman. The venerable and famous Professor Adam Fergusson, author of "The History of th,3 Roman Republic," was another of the remarkable men of this period. He was a man of original mind and 1 wid« experience. In his personal habits he was an exception to his generation, being a strict abstainer from both wine and animaj fcod. His relative, Dr Joseph Black, was a kindred spirit, and his son used to say, it was delightful to see the two philosophers rioting over a boiled turnip. Home, the author of "Douglas," was also a delightful character. When Home's play, was produced, it was received in Edin-r burgh with extraordinary favour. "Where's your Shakespeare, noof" was the triumphant shout of a patriotic but uncritical admirer. Home died in 1808 at the age of 86. Another worthy was "Jupiter" Carlyle, the minister of Inveresk, one of the noblest-looking old gentlemen pver beheld. His countenance and bearing were so imposing aa to justify the appellation given to him. Although the pink of propriety, and opposed to excess, he coukt drink hi*» four or five bottles or wine with impunity.

One evening he was ' leaving' Pinkieburn House, where he had dined, and was wending his way home'%ith all- his usual Olympian dignity. * Afield* woman servant «tood at the side door* tbe minister with reverem, adoration. • "Ay," she , Was heard to 6ay,' "tlxere goes Dr Carlyle, the good man ; as steady as a wall, and he's had his am- share o* four bottles o' port." Dr Joseph Black was an eminent chemist, wboae fame rests on the di-.eovery of latent heat, and who was the first to apply hydrogen gas in raising balloons. He was so pale, so gentle, so elegant, and so illustrious that not the wildest lad Ventured to be irreverent in his presence. 'An interesting story is told concerning the tranquil death of Dr Robert Henry, the historian : — Four -days before his death he wrote *o Sir Harry TvfOnerieff the strange mes- .•-- sage, "Come out here directly; I have got something to do this week ; I have got to die." Moncrieff obeyed the summons, and sat with him alone for what " turned out tip be the last three days of his life. During that time, as bs sat in ihis easy^chair, now dozing, now convers ing, a neighbouring minister who was a notorious and much-dreaded bore came to call. "Keep bin? out," cried the doctor; "don't let the cratur in here!" It was. too late, the cratur entered, but ■when he came in beheld the doctor to all appearances fast asleep. Moncrieff at once, taking in the situation, signed to the intruder to be silent. The visitor sat down, apparently to wait till Dr Henry' might- awake. Every time he offered" to speak he was checked by solemn gestures from Moncrieff or Mrs Henry. §k> he sat on all in perfect silence for above a quarter of an hour, during which Sir Harry occasionally detected the dying man peeping cautiously thtlough. the fringes of his eyelids to see how his visitor was. coming on. At last Sir Harry tired, and he and Mrs Henry, pointing to the poor doctor, fairly waved the visitor out of the room, on which tie doctor opened his eyes wide and had a tolerably hearty laugh, •which ' was renewed when the found of the horse's feet made them certain that their friend was actually off the premises. Dr Henry died that night. ■A romantic episode in Scott's youth was his unrequited love for Margaret Stuart. His. love tlream lasted through several years. The lady eventually married Sir William Forbes, of Pitsligo, who was a banker in Edinburgh. Sir William acted a very friendly part during Scott's financial disaster of ' 1826-1827. In the law Scott made no .great figure. Some of the Scotch judges of that period were veritable terrors. There was Lord Braxfield, who ■would send wretched prisoners to Botany Bay or the gallows with an insulting jest. 'His remark to Margaret, one of the -Friends of the People, who made a Fpeech in his own defence, was, "Ye're a very clever chiel, man, but ye wad be nane the war o' a hanging." A more humorous fsjfbry is that when a butler gave up his -'plao© because his lordship's wife was always scolding him, "Lord," he exclaimed, "ye'-ve little to complain o*. Ye may be thankfu' ye're no married to her." Lord Eskgrove was an oddity. In condemning & tailor to death for murdering a soldier by stabbing him, he said, "And not only did you murder kirn (whereby he was bereaved of hie life), but you did thrust or push or pierce or project or propell the le-thall weapon through the belly band of his 'regimental breeches, which were his Majesty's.'^ ' In another instance, condemning, some housebreakers and enlarg,iag,more suo on the.heinousness of their he concluded : "All ihis you did ; -and, God preserve us, joost when they were sit^n' doon to .their dinner!" Lord Sams, who was an inveterate chess-player, in the habit when on the Ayr circuit «f visiting the house of Matthew Hay, a gentleman of good repute, an equal enthusiast in the game. On one occasion the •battle was not concluded, and the result bad to stand over. But the next time "his hosf, engaged income political trouble, •was before him as a prisoner, was condemned, and was sentenced "to be hanged by the neck until you are "dead, and imy the. Lord have mercy upon your unhappy soul!" And then* with a familiar nod to ■liis unfortunate acquaintance, he said to •him in a sort of chuckling whisper, "And -now, Matthew, my man, that's checkmate * to you." Scott was married in 1797 to Charlotte Margaret Carpenter, or Charpentier, the daughter of a> French, loyalist refugee. They spent many happy years in Einburgh society until improved, circumstances enabled Scott -to realise his ambitions of landed estate in the acquisition of Abbotsford. His period -id literary activity may •be said to have commenced with the production of the fLay of the Last Minstrel." The success of this production confirmed 'his resolve to- >' abandon the bar for literature. "-- Thence onwards his .jnarvellous fecundity ' was made manifest' in a series of works which have been the delight of generations. The financial embarrassments in %hich he waf involved through the failure of the Bannatynes and his heroic resolve to work off the debts for which he had made himself responsible are familiar. It is impossible for much that is new to be xelated on these points. But Mr Fyfe has <lone his work well, and has produced a •volume which will be appreciated by all lovers cf a great writer and a good man.