Chronicles of the Canongate | Page 3

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CHRONICLES OF THE CANONGATE.
by Sir Walter Scott, Bart.

CONTENTS.
Introduction to Chronicles of the Canongate. Appendix to
Introduction--The Theatrical Fund Dinner. Introductory--Mr. Chrystal
Croftangry. The Highland Widow. The Two Drovers. Notes.

INTRODUCTION TO CHRONICLES OF THE CANONGATE.
The preceding volume of this Collection concluded the last of the
pieces originally published under the NOMINIS UMBRA of The
Author of Waverley; and the circumstances which rendered it
impossible for the writer to continue longer in the possession of his
incognito were communicated in 1827, in the Introduction to the first
series of Chronicles of the Canongate, consisting (besides a
biographical sketch of the imaginary chronicler) of three tales, entitled
"The Highland Widow," "The Two Drovers," and "The Surgeon's
Daughter." In the present volume the two first named of these pieces
are included, together with three detached stories which appeared the
year after, in the elegant compilation called "The Keepsake." "The
Surgeon's Daughter" it is thought better to defer until a succeeding
volume, than to
"Begin, and break off in the middle."
I have, perhaps, said enough on former occasions of the misfortunes
which led to the dropping of that mask under which I had, for a long
series of years, enjoyed so large a portion of public favour. Through the
success of those literary efforts, I had been enabled to indulge most of
the tastes which a retired person of my station might be supposed to
entertain. In the pen of this nameless romancer, I seemed to possess

something like the secret fountain of coined gold and pearls vouchsafed
to the traveller of the Eastern Tale; and no doubt believed that I might
venture, without silly imprudence, to extend my personal expenditure
considerably beyond what I should have thought of, had my means
been limited to the competence which I derived from inheritance, with
the moderate income of a professional situation. I bought, and built,
and planted, and was considered by myself, as by the rest of the world,
in the safe possession of an easy fortune. My riches, however, like the
other riches of this world, were liable to accidents, under which they
were ultimately destined to make unto themselves wings, and fly away.
The year 1825, so disastrous to many branches of industry and
commerce, did not spare the market of literature; and the sudden ruin
that fell on so many of the booksellers could scarcely have been
expected to leave unscathed one whose career had of