IMPORTANT FACTS IN THE LIFE OF WALTER SCOTT, AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF MARMION. 1806-1808. The poet edited the Works of John Dryden. 1808-1812. He edited the Works of Jonathan Swift. 1808. He with others projected the Quarterly Review in opposition to the Edinburgh Review. 1810. Lady of the Lake published, and the composition of Waverley, the poet's first novel, resumed. 1811. Poem of Don Roderick published, and the nucleus of the estate, which the poet named Abbotsford, bought. 1813. Rokeby published; also the Bridal of Triermain. The Poet Laureateship declined. 1814. Waverley published. 1815. Poem, the Lord of the Isles, and second romance, Guy Mannering, published. A visit to the Continent, where, on the field of Waterloo and in Paris, Scott collected much material for Life of Napoleon. 1816. The Antiquary, Tales of my Landlord, the Black Dwarf, and Old Mortality published. 1817. Harold the Dauntless [poem] published. The poet's first serious illness. Rob Roy published. 1818. Heart of Mid-Lothian published. accepted. Offer of a baronetcy 1819. Ivanhoe published. 1820. The Monastery published. A visit at Abbotsford from Prince Gustavus Vasa of Sweden. Scott made a baronet. His portrait painted at the request of the King by Sir Thomas Lawrence, for the great gallery at Windsor Castle. Offered honorary degrees by Oxford and Cambridge. Many distinguished literary and scientific guests received at Abbotsford. The Abbot published. Scott elected president of Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1821. Kenilworth published. At this date Scott estimated that his yearly net income from new literary work was about $75,000. He continued to improve and enlarge his beautiful chateau and estate at Abbotsford. The Pirate published. 1822. Fortunes of Nigel published. Edinburgh visited by George IV. Scott almost daily the King's guest at dinner at Dalkeith Palace. 1823. Peveril of the Peak published. First novel of Continental Life, Quentin Durward, and St. Ronan's Well published. 1824. Red Gauntlet published. Maida, "the noblest and most celebrated of all his dogs," died. 1825. Marriage of the poet's older son, Lieutenant Scott. Abbotsford, with the reservation of Sir Walter Scott's liferent, settled by marriage contract on Lieutenant Scott and wife. Expenses to Scott connected with the marriage of his son about $25,000. Poet's library at this time contained at least fifteen thousand volumes. Great entrance hall of Abbotsford now finished, and ornamented below the cornice with the shields of the ancient clans, such as those of Douglas, Kerr, Hume, etc. Visited Ireland and received with great honor. Diary begun. 1826. Failure of the three great publishing houses of Hunt & Robinson, Constable, and Ballantyne. Scott a silent partner in the last two. His losses, $585,000. United liabilities of the three houses about $3,365,000. Death of Lady Scott. Woodstock published and sold for about $40,000, which sum was applied to Scott's debts. Woodstock written in less than three months. Town house offered for sale. Scott's visit to London and Paris for materials for Life of Napoleon. Received with distinguished honor and respectful sympathy everywhere. Returned to Scotland cheered and rested for his life-and-death battle with his debt. 1827. Life of Napoleon published. First and second editions brought for Scott's creditors $90,000. Chronicles of the Canongate, First Series, also, First Series of Tales of a Grandfather published. Scott sold some of his copyrights for $23,750, which he applied to his debt. By January, 1828, debt reduced nearly $200,000. Fair Maid of Perth published. Second Series of Tales of a Grandfather published. 1829. Anne of Geierstein published. Third Series of Tales of a Grandfather published. 1830. Fourth Series of Tales of a Grandfather published; also, Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft. Rank of privy councillor offered to him by George IV. and declined. Second dividend of three shillings declared by the Ballantyne estate; first dividend was six shillings. Creditors send Scott a vote of thanks and pass a resolution - That Sir Walter Scott be requested to accept of his furniture, plate, linens, paintings, library, and curiosities of every description, as the best means the creditors have of expressing their very high sense of his most honourable conduct, and in 66 grateful acknowledgment for the unparalleled and most successful exertions he has made, and continues to make, for them." 1831. His health continuing to fail, Scott left home in September for the Continent. Winter of 1831-32 passed in Naples. He started for home on April 16, reached Abbotsford on July 11, and died from overwork on September 21, 1832. MARMION. To the Right Honorable HENRY LORD MONTAGU, etc., this romance is inscribed by the author. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION. It is hardly to be expected, that an Author whom the Public have honored with some degree of applause, should not be again a trespasser on their kindness. Yet the Author of MARMION must be supposed to feel some anxiety concerning its success, since he is sensible that he hazards, by this second intrusion, any reputation which his first Poem may have procured him. The present story turns upon the private adventures of a fictitious character; but is called a Tale of Flodden Field, because the hero's fate is connected with that memorable defeat, and the causes which led to it. The design of the Author was, if possible, to apprise his readers, at the outset, of the date of his Story, and to prepare them for the manners of the Age in which it is aid. Any Historical Narrative, far more an attempt at Epic composition, exceeded his plan of a Romantic Tale; yet he may be permitted to hope, from the popularity of THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL, that an attempt to paint the manners of the feudal times, upon a broader scale, and in the course of a more interesting story, will not be unacceptable to the Public. The Poem opens about the commencement of August, and concludes with the defeat of Flodden, 9th September, 1513. ASHESTIEL, 1808. Alas! that Scottish maid should sing The combat where her lover fell! The triumph of our foes to tell! - LEYDEN. |