Waverley | Page 5

of Otranto, with
plenty of Border characters and supernatural incident. Having found
unexpectedly a chapter of this intended work among some old papers, I
have subjoined it to this introductory essay, thinking some readers may
account as curious the first attempts at romantic composition by an
author who has since written so much in that department. [Footnote:
See Appendix No I.] And those who complain, not unreasonably, of the
profusion of the Tales which have followed Waverley, may bless their

stars at the narrow escape they have made, by the commencement of
the inundation, which had so nearly taken place in the first year of the
century, being postponed for fifteen years later.
This particular subject was never resumed, but I did not abandon the
idea of fictitious composition in prose, though I determined to give
another turn to the style of the work.
My early recollections of the Highland scenery and customs made so
favourable an impression in the poem called the Lady of the Lake, that
I was induced to think of attempting something of the same kind in
prose. I had been a good deal in the Highlands at a time when they
were much less accessible and much less visited than they have been of
late years, and was acquainted with many of the old warriors of 1745,
who were, like most veterans, easily induced to fight their battles over
again for the benefit of a willing listener like myself. It naturally
occurred to me that the ancient traditions and high spirit of a people
who, living in a civilised age and country, retained so strong a tincture
of manners belonging to an early period of society, must afford a
subject favourable for romance, if it should not prove a curious tale
marred in the telling.
It was with some idea of this kind that, about the year 1805, I threw
together about one-third part of the first volume of Waverley. It was
advertised to be published by the late Mr. John Ballantyne, bookseller
in Edinburgh, under the name of Waverley; or, 'Tis Fifty Years
Since--a title afterwards altered to 'Tis Sixty Years Since, that the
actual date of publication might be made to correspond with the period
in which the scene was laid. Having proceeded as far, I think, as the
seventh chapter, I showed my work to a critical friend, whose opinion
was unfavourable; and having then some poetical reputation, I was
unwilling to risk the loss of it by attempting a new style of composition.
I therefore threw aside the work I had commenced, without either
reluctance or remonstrance. I ought to add that, though my ingenious
friend's sentence was afterwards reversed on an appeal to the public, it
cannot be considered as any imputation on his good taste; for the
specimen subjected to his criticism did not extend beyond the departure

of the hero for Scotland, and consequently had not entered upon the
part of the story which was finally found most interesting.
Be that as it may, this portion of the manuscript was laid aside in the
drawers of an old writing-desk, which, on my first coming to reside at
Abbotsford in 1811, was placed in a lumber garret and entirely
forgotten. Thus, though I sometimes, among other literary avocations,
turned my thoughts to the continuation of the romance which I had
commenced, yet, as I could not find what I had already written, after
searching such repositories as were within my reach, and was too
indolent to attempt to write it anew from memory, I as often laid aside
all thoughts of that nature.
Two circumstances in particular recalled my recollection of the mislaid
manuscript. The first was the extended and well-merited fame of Miss
Edgeworth, whose Irish characters have gone so far to make the
English familiar with the character of their gay and kind-hearted
neighbours of Ireland, that she may be truly said to have done more
towards completing the Union than perhaps all the legislative
enactments by which it has been followed up.
Without being so presumptuous as to hope to emulate the rich humour,
pathetic tenderness, and admirable tact which pervade the works of my
accomplished friend, I felt that something might be attempted for my
own country, of the same kind with that which Miss Edgeworth so
fortunately achieved for Ireland--something which might introduce her
natives to those of the sister kingdom in a more favourable light than
they had been placed hitherto, and tend to procure sympathy for their
virtues and indulgence for their foibles. I thought also, that much of
what I wanted in talent might be made up by the intimate acquaintance
with the subject which I could lay claim to possess, as having travelled
through most parts of Scotland, both Highland and Lowland,