My worthy father the deacon could not have be- | concile him to old age, it was the reflexion th lieved that his son could hae had sic a compli- he had seen the rising as well as the setting ment paid to him by the Great Unknown. of Mrs Siddons. He remembered well their brea . Sir WALTER SCOTT.-Not unknown now, Mr fasting near to the theatre-waiting the whe Baillie. « Mr MACKAY.-He had been long identified with the Baillie, and he was now vain of the cognomen which he had worn for eight years, and he questioned if any of his brethren in the council had given such universal satisfaction. (Loud laughter and applause.) Before he sat down he begged to propose, 'the Lord Provost and the City of Edinburgh.' day-the crushing at the doors at six o'clock and their going in and counting their fingers t seven o'clock. But the very first step, the ve first word which she uttered, was sufficient overpay him for all his labours. The house w literally electrified; and it was only from w nessing the effects of her genius, that he cou guess to what a pitch theatrical excellence com be carried. Those young fellows who have or seen the setting sun of this distinguished på former, beautiful and serene as that was, m give us old fellows, who have seen its rise, lea to hold our heads a little higher. « Mr MACKAY announced that the subscripti for the night amounted to 280l. ; and he expre ed gratitude for this substantial proof of the kindness. a Mr MACKAY here entertained the company wi pathetic song. Sir W. SCOTT apologized for having so lo forgotten their native land. He would now gi Scotland, the Land of Cakes. He would gi every river, every loch, every hill, from Tweed Johnnie Groat's house-every lass in her cotta and countess in her castle; and may her so stand by her, as their fathers did before the and he who would not drink a bumper to toast, may he never drink whisky more. « Sir W. Scorr—Gentlemen, I crave a bump all over. The last toast reminds me of a ne « Mr Pat. RobertsSON gave ‘Mrs Henry Siddons, and success to the Theatre-Royal of Edinburgh.' Mr MURRAY returned thanks for Mrs Siddons. « Sir WALTER SCOTT here stated, that Mrs Siddons wanted the means, but not the will, of beginning the Theatrical Fund. He here alluded to the great ability of Mr Murray's management, and of his merits, which were of the first order, and of which every person who attends the theatre must be sensible; and, after alluding to the embarrassments with which the Theatre was threatened, he concluded by giving the health of Mr Murray, which was drank with three times three. Mr MURRAY-Gentlemen, I wish I could believe that, in any degree, I merited the compliments with which it has pleased Sir Walter Scott to preface the proposal of my health, or the very flattering manner in which you have done me the honour to receive it. When, upon the death of my dear brother, the late Mr Siddons, it was proposed that I should undertake the management of the Edinburgh Theatre, I confess I drew ||lect of duty. Unaccustomed to a public duty back, doubting my capability to free it from the this kind, errors in conducting the ceremonial load of debt and difficulty with which it was sur- it may be excused, and omissions pardone rounded. In this state of anxiety I solicited the Perhaps I have made one or two omissions in t advice of one who had ever honoured me with course of the evening, for which I trust you w his kindest regard, and whose name no member grant me your pardon and indulgence. O of my profession can pronounce without feel- thing in particular I have omitted, and I wou ings of the deepest respect and gratitude-1 al- now wish to make amends for it by a libation lude to the late Mr John Kemble. (Great ap- reverence and respect to the memory of Sha plause.) To him I applied; and with the repe-speare. He was a man of universal genius, an tition of his advice I shall cease to transgress from a period soon after his own era to the pr upon your time. (Hear, hear.) My dear Wil-sent day he has been universally idolized. Whe liam, fear not; integrity and assiduity must prove an overmatch for all difficulty, and though I approve your not indulging a vain confidence in your own ability, and viewing with respectful apprehension the judgment of the audience you have to act before, yet be assured that judgment will ever be tempered by feeling that you are acting for the widow and fatherless.' (Loud applause.) « Mr J. MACONOCHIE gave the health of Mrs Siddons.' I come to his honoured name, I am like the sic man who hung up his crutches at the shrine, an was obliged to confess that he did not walk bette than before. It is indeed difficult, gentlemen to compare him to any other individual. Th only one to whom I can at all compare him is the wonderful Arabian dervise, who dived into th body of each, and in that way became familia with the thoughts and secrets of their heart He was a man of obscure origin, and as a player limited in his acquirements. But he was bor evidently with a universal genius. His eye glanced at all the varied aspects of life, and his tery portrayed with equal talents the king on be throne, and the clown who cracks his chesnuts at a Christmas fire. Whatever note he takes, le strikes it just and true, and awakens a correconding chord in our own bosoms. Gentlemen, propose the memory of William Shakspeare.' Glee, 'Lightly tread, 't is hallow'd ground.' After the glee, Sir Walter rose, and begged to propose as a toast the health of a lady, whose wing merits are not a little honourable to Scot-stone of a certain building, 'behold the endless The toast (said he) is also flattering to the national vanity of a Scotchman, as the lady Then I intend to propose is a native of this counFrom the public her works have met with the most favourable reception. One piece of ars, in particular, was often acted here of late years, and gave pleasure of no mean kind to any brilliant and fashionable audiences. In her private character, she (he begged leave to say) 8 as remarkable as in a public sense she is for genius. In short, he would in one word name -Joanna Baillie.' verty. If there are twelve plans, it is odds but the largest, without any regard to comfort, or an eye to the probable expense, is adopted. There was the College projected on this scale, and undertaken in the same manner, and who shall see the end of it? It has been building all my life, and may probably last during the lives of my children, and my children's children. Let it not be said, when we commence a new theatre, as was said on the occasion of laying the foundation W. MENZIES, Esq., advocate, was sure that all present would cordially join him in drinking the health of Mr Terry.' work begun.' Play-going folks should attend somewhat to convenience. The new theatre should, in the first place, be such as may be finished in eighteen months or two years; and, in the second place, it should be one in which we can hear our old friends with comfort. It is better that a theatre should be crowded now and then, than to have a large theatre, with benches continually empty, to the discouragement of the actors, and the discomfort of the spectators. (Applause.) « Immediately afterwards he said, Gentlemen, it is now wearing late, and I shall request permission to retire. Like Partridge, I may say, ‘non sum qualis eram.' At my time of day, I can agree Sir W. SCOTT-Mr Baron Clerk-The Court with Lord Ogleby as to the rheumatism, and say, Exchequer. Mr Baron CLERK regretted the absence of his Jared Brother. None, he was sure, could be are generous in his nature, or ready to help a Nottish purpose. There's a twinge.' I hope, therefore, you will excuse me for leaving the Chair. (The worthy Baronet then retired, amid long, loud, and rapturous cheering.)" When Sir Walter had thus declared, à propos Ar W. SCOTT-There is one who ought to be to nothing, that he was the man who had so long bered on this occasion. He is indeed well concealed his features under the mask of the auled to our great recollection-one, in short, thor of Waverley, all the world stared, not so whom the drama in this city owes much. He much at the unexpectedness of the disclosure, for steeded, not without trouble, and perhaps at it was virtually well-known before, but that the e considerable sacrifice, in establishing a declaration should be made at that particular Satre. The younger part of the company may moment, when there appeared no reason for rerecollect the theatre to which I allude; but vealing the quasi secret. A document which we here are some who with me inay remember by have lately seen, however, explains the circumthe Theatre in Carrubber's Close. There stance, and puts to flight many sage conjectures. an Ramsay established his little theatre. His The unfortunate position of the affairs of Constapastoral was not fit for the stage, but it has ble and Co., and of Ballantyne and Co., with the town admirers in those who love the Doric lan- latter of which firms Sir Walter Scott was conpage in which it is written; and it is not without nected, has rendered it necessary that their acLerits of a very peculiar kind. But, laying aside counts should not only be looked into, but exconsiderations of his literary merit, Allan was a posed to the creditors. The transactions recordedjovial honest fellow, who could crack a bottle there show explicitly enough who was the author the best. The Memory of Allan Ramsay.' of Waverley ;-we not only find Sir Walter Scott Mr P. ROBERT ON-I feel that I am about to receives payment for these works, but we find tread on ticklish ground. The talk is of a new him stipulating for the purchase-money of works Stre, but wherever the new theatre may be then unconceived, and of yielding up every stiented, I trust we shall meet the Old Company. ver, or its worth, which he could command, but Sir WALTER SCOTT-Wherever the new theatre actually pledging future labours akin to former uilt, I hope it will not be large. There are ones, for the liquidation of his debts. These, and Two errors which we commonly commit-the one a variety of other particulars are to be found in arising from our pride, the other from our po- the excerpts of the sederunt book of the meet d ings of Messrs Ballantyne's creditors, a copy of which has lately been in private circulation. Hence the sudden, and, it must be added, rather awkward avowal of the authorship on the part of Sir Walter. As he was well aware that the circumstances would soon make their way through the press, he determined to catch, at some little eclat, while yet there was time—some little credit for disclosing that himself, which all the world were soon to learn from others. These are items from the accounts. 'Value of Sir Walter Scott's literary property. 1. Copyright of published works, estimated at the rate obtained from Constable and Co. for similar works.' 2,000 4,600l. 2. Eventual rights to works sold to Constable and Co. for which bonds to the extent of 7,800l. are granted, but for reasons above stated, no value can be rated in this state." 3. Works in progress.3 As none of these are completed, no value put on them at present beyond what is before stated as due to Ballantyne and Co. for printing works in progress, and on the value of Messrs Constable and Co.'s paper on hand; but ultimately will be very valuable. See Appendix as to these works. In the debtor and creditor account of Consta ble and Co. with Ballantyne and Co., the following item occurs on the credit side:-Sums advanced by Constable and Co. to Sir Walter Scott, being their two-third shares of sums stipulated to be paid in advance for two works of fiction not named, and not yet written, as per missives, dated 7th and 20th March, 1823. 2 « It is a condition of these bonds, that if they are not paid, the copyrights revert to the author; so that, in spite of the failure of the granters, it is supposed they will be paid.>> 3 This alludes to the Life of Napoleon.» 4 « Were the right the other way, it would be a very difficult matter to enforce it. An author of works of fiction is not to be delivered against his will; a legal process to force Sir Walter Scott to produce a couple of novels, would be the Cæsarean operation in literature.>> « At the second meeting of creditors, held 30 February; 1826, a resolution is entered, tha the printing establishment should be continued both as a source of profit, and as necessary for the publication of Sir W. Scott's works; who had requested of Mr Gibson to communicate, that he was to use every exertion in his power on behal of the creditors; and by the diligent employ ment of his talents, and adoption of a strictly economical mode of life, to secure, as speedily as possible, full payment to all concerned. The cause of the delay in the publication of the Life of Napoleon will be found in the following minute: "The circumstances connected with the two literary works, entitled Woodstock, and The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, having been considered; the trustees expressed their opinion, that so far as they understood the nature of the bar to kindle the eloquence, to exercise the wisdom and skill, or to stimulate the intellectual ambition of the historian. Yet, notwithstanding the unquestionable powers of the celebrated author -notwithstanding the fame which he had set upon the cast »-the magnitude of the occasion, jain between Sir Walter Scott and Constable and the latter had no claim in law for the proeds of either of these books; but think it dezable for all parties that they should be finishwhich should be communicated to Sir Walter; nd also, that he should be requested to give his ad to the sale of them to the best advantage.—and all the inspiring circumstances of the underlir Gibson was instructed to endeavour to conrt some arrangement with Constable and Co. for consigning in some bank the price of the warks, until all questions concerning them were decided.' › On the 26th May, 1826, a meeting was held, en Mr Gibson reported particulars of sale of Woodstock, 7,900 copies of which had been sold Hurst and Robinson, at 6,500l.: but they be unable to complete the bargain, they had been transferred to Longman and Co. on same terms. The money had been paid, and was deposited th Sir W. Forbes and Co. to wait the issue of the decision as to the respective claims of Consable and Co. and Sir W. Scott's trustees, rearding this work. The remainder of the impression had been sold to Constable and Co.'s trastée at 18s. 6d. each copy, at a credit of months from delivery, with five per cent. count for any earlier payment,' of which the urtees approved. In consequence of advice from Sir Walter Scott and Longman and Co., it had been thought advisable to restrict the first edition of the Life of Napoleon to 6,000, instead 8,000 copies, as originally intended. The excerpts contain a great number of items, which lay open the precise state of Sir Walter's private affairs: a hundred years hence they may Le a great curiosity, and their publication may then be correct; at present it would certainly be delicate and unhandsome, not only to the adsirable writer himself, but also to several other rivate individuals. Every thing belonging to a Teat national genius is public property, and in de course of a short time these excerpts will be aght for with avidity, and published with as attle hesitation as Mr Todd lately printed Milton's uniary squabbles with his mother-in-law. » The last, but not the last best work of Sir Walter Scott, is his LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, a production of which neither our limits, 寫 inclinations, will allow us to say much. In an historical point of view it possesses few merit, and, we are constrained to admit, is equally worthy of the extraordinary character it treats *, as of its author's splendid literary reputation. The extent and importance of the subject were alculated to afford an ample scope for the dispay of the very highest ability. A more excitag theme of narration-a fairer field of philophical contemplation, was never before given taking, it would be vain to deny that the work, upon the whole, is a failure. The book has, evidently, been written in haste and with negligence; the author has given himself no time either for the well-digested arrangement of facts, or profound reflexion on the great combinations of political action. He has not, in simple language, studied his subject; but has put together an immense mass of materials, as rapidly as they accumulated under his hands, with little care in the selection, and no thought for their relative importance and measurement. It is, in short, a voluminous compilation, executed indeed with wonderful celerity, and adorned with brilliant passages, but nothing worthy either of the genius of Walter Scott or the true dignity of history. But the real cause of his failure in writing the history of our eventful times must not be traced either to ignorance or incapacity. It is too visible that lower considerations than the generous love of fame inspired the author. Hence, only, the haste, the negligence, the prolixity of the composition, the want of compression, of reviewing, of deliberate arrangement.— At the same time, we should be guilty of great injustice if we failed to remark the extraordinary skill displayed by Sir Walter Scott in the relation of military events. Not only are the shifting alarums of the battle-field exhibited with all the eager animation, all the picturesque and dramatic energy of description, which were to be looked for from the Author of Waverley,» but the plans of campaign, and the movements of armies, are explained in a clear and methodical style, which evinces a perfect acquaintance with the principles of strategy.-Finally, of the third volume we are bound to speak in terms of unqualified commendation. It forms the most exciting and delightful fragment of heroic biography with which we are acquainted.' It is with much regret that we feel ourselves obliged to notice an unpleasant epistolary discussion, which has arisen between General Gourgaud and Sir Walter Scott, Napoleon,» in which the general's fidelity to his late in consequence of some passages in the latter's «Life of exiled master is more than called in question. To this charge the general, in a long letter inserted in the Paris journals, has given the «lie direct, and termed the whole work a romance. Sir Walter has since published a spirited the official documents, etc., on which the passages in dis reply in the English newspapers, and produced copies of cussion vere founded. |