DISCOURSES, TWO RELIGIOUS. (1828.) See Religious. DONAT, MRS.: Cookery, THE NEW PRACTICE OF. (1805) Pr. xix. 100 This was written for Daniel Terry (1780–1829), of the Adelphi Theatre, London, who was, during many years, on terms of intimacy with Sir W. Scott. The general story of the "Doom of Devorgoil" is founded on an old Scottish tradition, the scene of which lies in Galloway. It did not succeed on the stage. DRAMA, THE, ESSAY ON. (1819) Pr. v. 217 This is included in Scott's "Chronological List of Writings” under the year 1814. It was first published in the "Supplement to the Encyclopædia "Britannica," in 1819. Sir Walter received £100 for the essay. The essayist treats of his subject under certain broad heads,―e.g. : (p. 221) Grecian theatrical representations; (p. 258) the Roman drama; (p. 266) the modern drama as developed in Italy; (p. 293) the drama in France; (p. 331) the drama in England from the revival of the theatre until the great Civil War; (p. 352) from the Restoration to the reign of Queen Anne; (p. 365) from the earlier part of the eighteenth century to the time of George the Fourth; (p. 376) the period of David Garrick, Sheridan, the elder Colman, Mrs. Siddons, Kean, Young, and Miss O'Neil. (See Chivalry.) DRYDEN, JOHN (1631-1700), THE LIFE OF. (1808) Pr. i. The "Life and Works of Dryden, with Notes,” were published by Scott in eighteen volumes, for which the editor's fee was forty guineas a volume,―i.e., £756. It was reviewed with great praise by Henry Hallam in the Edinburgh Review for October, 1808. A view of Carlisle after J. M. W. Turner by E. Goodall is given as frontispiece, and a view of the poet's tomb in Westminster Abbey, also after J. M. W. Turner by J. Horsburgh, is added. ELLIS, GEORGE (1745-1815): SPECIMENS OF EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL This is an article published in the Edinburgh Review for 1806, contrasting the "Metrical Romances" edited by Joseph Ritson with those edited by Mr. Ellis. Ellis, George: SPECIMENS OF THE EARLY ENGLISH POETS. (1804) Pr. xvii. George Ellis became the friend of Sir W. Scott in the year 1800. The essay from which these remarks are taken appeared in the Edinburgh Review for 1804. ENGLISH SONGS, VOCAL POETRY; OR, A SELECT COLLECTION of. By (1810) See Aikin. EVANS, THOMAS: OLD BALLADS, HISTORICAL, ETC. (1810) Pr. xvii. 119. This was published in the Quarterly Review, May, 1810. It reviews an edition of poems revised by the poet's son, R. H. Evans. The article also criticises Aikin's "Vocal Poetry." (See Aikin.) EYRBIGGIA-SAGA, ABSTRACT OF THE. (1814) Pr. v. 355 These are "the early annals of that district of Iceland lying around the "promontory called Snæfells." The essay was contributed by Sir W. Scott to Robert Jameson's "Illustrations of Northern Antiquities,” published in the summer of 1814. Sir W. Scott was of opinion that the stone circles such as are seen at Stennis and Stonehenge were erections among the northern nations to mark their places of meeting, whether for religious purposes or civil policy. But as to how such stones were "raised, transported, and placed upright," he has no other solution than the usual answer, that "that is a puzzling question." (See L. iv. 265.) FAIR MAID OF PERTH, THE; OR, SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY. 2 vols. (1828) Nov. xlii. and xliii. This formed the second series of "The Chronicles of the Canongate." The story is laid in Perth and its vicinity in the year 1402 in the time of Henry IV. of England and of Robert III. of Scotland. The story includes the settlement of a feud between two clans by a combat between thirty of their chosen warriors, in King Robert's presence, on Palm Sunday. "The novel “had a favourable reception." The second title arises from the incident that Catharine, the daughter of the old glover of Perth, kisses Henry Smith, while asleep, on St. Valentine's morning, and ultimately marries him. The story introduces amongst other historical personages the Earl of Douglas, Lieutenant-General of Scotland; King Robert the Third; the Duke of Albany; and George, Earl of Dunbar and March. FAIRIES OF POPULAR SUPERSTITION. (1802 and 1803) Po. ii. 254-336 This essay on elves or fairies forms an introduction to the "Tale of "Tamlane," included among the "Romantic Ballads" in the "Minstrelsy of "the Scottish Border." Sir W. Scott considerably modified some of the views maintained in this early essay from his pen, in his later-written Letter No. IV. on "Demonology," published in 1830. FATAL REVENGE; OR, THE FAMILY OF MONTORIO. BY MATURIN, Rev. See Maturin. FIELD OF WATERLOO, THE. (1815) Po. xi. 255-291 This was published within four months of the battle of Waterloo, and the profits of the first edition were the author's contribution to the fund raised for the relief of the widows and children of the soldiers slain in the battle. The poem was brought out in a cheap form, and rapidly attained a measure of circulation above what had been reached either by "Rokeby" or "The Lord "of the Isles." FIELDING, HENRY (1707-1754), MEMOIR OF. 77-116. (1821-5) Pr. iii. This is one of the "Prefaces" in Ballantyne's "Novelist's Library." This life of "the first of British novelists," or, as Lord Byron termed him, "the prose Homer of human nature," gives a very good running commentary on the principal works of Fielding. Scott once quoted in a letter a couplet from Fielding's farce "Tumble"down Dick" which he liked, and he forthwith determined to put it in his "Woodstock" into the mouth of "an old admirer of Shakespeare;” but as Fielding's lines were not written at the period of the novel, he added a note (see "Woodstock,” Nov. xl. p. 134) that, observing it in Fielding, “it must, as "it was current in the time of the Commonwealth, have reached the author of "Tom Jones' by tradition; for no one," adds Scott, "will suspect the pres"ent author of making the anachronism." See Lockhart's "Life,” vol. viii. pp. 251-52, where is recorded an entry in Scott's diary asserting that he felt assured that it would be easy to swear they were written and that Fielding adopted them from tradition. FLEETWOOD; OR, THE NEW MAN OF FEELING. BY GODWIN, WIL LIAM. (1805). See Godwin. Pr. xviii. 118 FLY-FISHING, DAYS OF. BY DAVY, SIR HUMPHRY. (1828) Pr. xx. The plot of the story is woven round the Scottish citizen and goldsmith, George Heriot (1563-1624), who followed James I. to the English capital, acted as the King's Goldsmith and Banker, and was familiarly called Jingling Geordie. He was the founder of the well-known Heriot's Hospital for the education of youth. The romance is laid in London and its vicinity in and about the year 1620, and an excellent account is given of the liberties of Alsatia, as Whitefriars was then called. Among the historical personages introduced are Steenie, the Duke of Buckingham; Charles I., as “Baby Charles;" George Heriot; King James I., and various heroes and heroines of Alsatia, the sanctuary of outlaws. The story and notes give much information as to the monstrous murder of Sir Thomas Overbury by Mrs. Turner, with the connivance of the Duchess of Somerset. "Nigel" "was considered as ranking in the first class of Scott's romances." FRAGMENTS, POETICAL These consist of the "Poacher" and a "Song." FRANCE, HISTORY OF. 2 vols. (1830). See Tales of a Grandfather. FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. (1818) Pr. xviii. 250. This review appeared in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine for March, 1818. It is a criticism of Mrs. Shelley's first novel, "A Strange Romance," wild and improbable, and esteemed at first a classic; but this early judgment on its merits has been considerably modified in later years. Scott, when reviewing the novel, attributed the authorship to Percy Bysshe Shelley. FRASER, JAMES BAILLIE (1783-1856): KUZZILBASH, THE: A TALE OF 393 This review appeared in the Quarterly for January, 1829. The romance was called "Kuzzilbash," which means the "Red-cap," to designate the Persian soldier, who is so called from that distinguishing part of his uniform. By Pr. xix. 112 FROISSART (SIR) JOHN (1337-circa 14c0), CHRONICLES OF. This review appeared in the Edinburgh in January, 1805. The edition here reviewed was executed at the Hafod Press, a private printing press established by Mr. Johnes (1749–1816) at his superb residence at Hafod. His "Froissart," followed by "Monstrelet," are too well known to need more than mention. GALT, JOHN (1779-1839): THE OMEN. (1824) Pr. xviii. 333 This review appeared in Blackwood for July, 1824. Galt wrote eight or ten novels, principally delineating Scottish life and character, but this is not considered one of his best. GEORGE III., KING (1738-1820), MEMOIR OF. (1820) Pr. iv. 322 This was published in the Edinburgh Weekly Journal of February 8, 1820. GERTRUDE OF WYOMING. BY CAMPBELL, THOMAS. (1809) Pr. xvii. 267. This is more than a glossary, and contains several interesting old rhymes, and so forth. For example, the "Borrowing-days," or the last three days of March (O.S.), are described as,— "March borrowed frae Aprile "Three days, an' they were ill; "The first o' them was wind and weet, "That the birds' legs stack to the trees." This rhyme is quoted (see Nov. xii. 230) in Leyden's edition of the "Com"playnt of Scotland." Another rhyme worthy of remembrance is,— "Neevie-neevie-nee-nack, "Tak the right, tak the wrang, "I'll beguile you if I can;" which is stated to be a lottery rhyme used among boys while whirling the two closed fists round each other,-one containing the prize, the other empty. |