Pray, sir, raise a voice against this wretched
_material_, for that is the thing in fault, not the workmanship; and if
more must be paid for undoctored outsides, let it be so.
NOVUS.
_Scott's Waverley._--Some years ago, a gentleman of my acquaintance, now
residing in foreign parts, told me the following story:--
"Once upon a time," the great unknown being engaged in a
shooting-match near his dwelling, it came to pass that all the
gun-wadding was spent, so that he was obliged to fetch _paper_
instead. After Sir Walter had come back, his fellow-shooter
chanced to look at the succedaneum, and was not a little
astonished to see it formed part of a tale written by his
entertainer's hand. By his friend's urgent inquiries, the Scotch
romancer was compelled to acknowledge himself the author, and to
save the well nigh destroyed manuscript of _Waverley_.
I do not know whether Sir Walter Scott was induced by _this_ incident to
publish the first of his tales or not; perhaps it occurred after several
of his novels had been printed.
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