Old Mortality

Old Mortality, entire

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Title: Old Mortality, Complete
Author: Sir Walter Scott
Release Date: November 2004 [EBook #6941] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 16,
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Edition: 10

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MORTALITY, BY SCOTT, COMPLETE ***

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OLD MORTALITY
by Sir Walter Scott

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION TO OLD MORTALITY.
The origin of "Old Mortality," perhaps the best of Scott's historical
romances, is well known. In May, 1816, Mr. Joseph Train, the gauger
from Galloway, breakfasted with Scott in Castle Street. He brought
gifts in his hand,--a relic of Rob Roy, and a parcel of traditions. Among
these was a letter from Mr. Broadfoot, schoolmaster in Pennington,
who facetiously signed himself "Clashbottom." To cleish, or clash, is to
"flog," in Scots. From Mr. Broadfoot's joke arose Jedediah
Cleishbotham, the dominie of Gandercleugh; the real place of
Broadfoot's revels was the Shoulder of Mutton Inn, at Newton Stewart.
Mr. Train, much pleased with the antiques in "the den" of Castle Street,
was particularly charmed by that portrait of Claverhouse which now
hangs on the staircase of the study at Abbotsford. Scott expressed the
Cavalier opinions about Dundee, which were new to Mr. Train, who
had been bred in the rural tradition of "Bloody Claver'se."
[The Editor's first acquaintance with Claverhouse was obtained through
an old nurse, who had lived on a farm beside a burn where, she said,
the skulls of Covenanters shot by Bloody Claver'se were still
occasionally found. The stream was a tributary of the Ettrick.]
"Might he not," asked Mr. Train, "be made, in good hands, the hero of
a national romance as interesting as any about either Wallace or Prince
Charlie?" He suggested that the story should be delivered "as if from
the mouth of Old Mortality." This probably recalled to Scott his own

meeting with Old Mortality in Dunnottar Churchyard, as described in
the Introduction to the novel.
The account of the pilgrim, as given by Sir Walter from Mr. Train's
memoranda, needs no addition. About Old Mortality's son, John, who
went to America in 1776 (? 1774), and settled in Baltimore, a curious
romantic myth has gathered. Mr. Train told Scott more, as his
manuscript at Abbotsford shows, than Scott printed. According to Mr.
Train, John Paterson, of Baltimore, had a son Robert and a daughter
Elizabeth. Robert married an American lady, who, after his decease,
was married to the Marquis of Wellesley. Elizabeth married Jerome
Bonaparte! Sir Walter distrusted these legends, though derived from a
Scotch descendant of Old Mortality. Mr. Ramage, in March, 1871,
wrote to "Notes and Queries" dispelling the myth.
According to Jerome Bonaparte's descendant, Madame Bonaparte, her
family were Pattersons, not Patersons. Her Baltimore ancestor's will is
extant, has been examined by Old Mortality's great-grandson, and
announces in a kind of preamble that the testator was a native of
Donegal; his Christian name was William ("Notes and Queries," Fourth
Series, vol. vii. p. 219, and Fifth Series, August, 1874). This, of course,
quite settles the question; but the legend is still current among
American descendants of the old Roxburghshire wanderer.
"Old Mortality," with its companion, "The Black Dwarf," was
published on December 1, 1816, by Mr. Murray in London, and Mr.
Blackwood in Edinburgh.
The name of "The Author of 'Waverley'" was omitted on the title-page.
The reason for a change of publisher may have been chiefly financial
(Lockhart, v. 152). Scott may have also thought it amusing to appear as
his own rival in a new field. He had not yet told his secret to Lady
Abercorn, but he seems to reveal it (for who