THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. 20. No. 571.] | SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER | [PRICE 2d. |
NOTICES
OF THE
LIFE AND WRITINGS
OF
THE LATE SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
With Five Engravings:
Sir Walter Scott was the third son of Walter Scott, Esq., Writer tothe Signet, in Edinburgh, and Anne, daughter of Dr. John Rutherford,Professor of Medicine in the University of the above city. Hisancestry numbers several distinguished persons; though the well-earnedfame of Sir Walter Scott readers his pedigree comparativelyuninteresting; inasmuch as it illustrates the saw of an olden poet,that
Learning is an addition beyond
Nobility of birth: honour of blood,
Without the ornament of knowledge, is
A glorious ignorance.
SHIRLEY.
Sir Walter was born at Edinburgh, on the 15th of August, 1771—or, onthe birthday of Napoleon Buonaparte. His father was a[pg 242]man ofprosperous fortune and good report; and for many years was "an elderin the parish church of Old Grey Friars, while Dr. Robertson, thehistorian, acted as one of the ministers. The other clergyman was Dr.John Erskine, of whom Sir Walter has given an animated picture in hisnovel of Guy Mannering."1Mrs. Scott is described as awell-educated gentlewoman, possessing considerable natural talents;though she did not enjoy the acquaintance of Allan Ramsay, Blacklock,Beattie, and Burns, as has been stated by some biographers. She,however, advantageously mixed in literary society, and from hersuperintendence of the early education of her eldest son, Walter,there is reason to infer that such advantages may have influenced hishabits and taste. He was the third of a family, consisting of six sonsand one daughter. The cleverest of the sons is stated by Sir Walter tohave been Daniel, a sailor, who died young. Thomas, the next brotherto Sir Walter, was a man of considerable talent, and before the avowalof the authorship of the Waverley Novels, report ascribed to him agreat part or the whole of them. Sir Walter observes—"Those whoremember that gentleman (of the 70th regiment, then stationed inCanada) will readily grant, that, with general talent at least equalto those of