The National Republican and Ohio Political Register, 1823-05-27

But Walter Scott did not confine him himself - self himself to this pursuit, lucrative as he. found it to be. His mother had a natural turn for poetry, and published several pieces during her life time, which are said to have pos possessed - sessed possessed some merit. From her intimacy with Burns, Blackrock, and Ramsay, this nropensity was rather increased than di diminished; - minished; diminished; and although circumstances ren rendered - dered rendered it somewhat improbable that ever she would acquire fame as a votary of the Muses, vet she appears to have flattered herself that her son, whose prospects as a lawyer were very gloomy, might be able to turn to account the lessons she had giv givo' - o' givo' en him on the subject of poetry. Tutored by so near a relative. Sir Wal Walter - ter Walter resolved on pursuing the course she had marked out for him. But aware that his talents for poetry were not of that na namid - mid namid justify ; to thepubl ture which would justify him in offering an original work to the public, he commenced his career by publishing two poems or bal ballads - lads ballads from the German, entitled "The Chase," and " William and Mary." Al Although - though Although a preface to these ballads was writ written - ten written by the honorable Henry Erskine, who at that time stood high in the ranks of liter literature, - ature, literature, their success was by no means of an encouraging nature. Still as other resour resources - ces resources presented themselves, Sir Walter was not discouraged by this failure. Residing, for a great portion of the year, in that part of Scotland which skirts the ancient Eng English - lish English boundary, the former scene of innu innumerable - merable innumerable feuds and bloody affrays, it imme immediately - diately immediately occurred to Scott, that this circum circumstance - stance circumstance might be rendered subservient to his views of acquiring political fame. At no very remote period, there existed on the borders avast collection of printed ballads or songs, in which the exploits of the English and Scottish warrior* were cel celebrated - ebrated celebrated by harpers, or bards, belonging to the two nations. It was observed, of late years, by persons living on the spot, that these songs were rapidly disappearing. It was known that Scott had been appointed sheriff* over an extensive portion of this district; but no one thought of endeavor endeavoring - ing endeavoring to ascertain the cause of the disappear ance of these romantic national effusions, until the publication of the "Border Bal Ballads,by - lads,by Ballads,by W alter Scott," developed the mys mystery. - tery. mystery. The circumstance of this volume appearing without any explanation as to the source from which the materials were principally drawn, might have subjected Scott to severe animadversion, had not the novel and romantic style of the work ser served - ved served as a passport to the favor of a majori majority - ty majority of its readers. But when volume after volume was announced under the name of Scott, containing the ancient legendary tales of the border, decked out in a new dress, it was no longer a matter of sur sur***993 - ***993 sur***993 ** **82 11V 9**8 - ---9tee VI OUI mise merely, that Sir Walter was a plagi plagiarist, - arist, plagiarist, and entitled to no other merit for the works to which he had modestly affixed affixeded - ed affixeded his name, than that of a compiler. This conviction continued to gather strength down to the publication of the " Battle of Waterloo," when every vestige of doubt (if doubt remained) vanished before the ir irresistible - resistible irresistible evidence, which this poem con contained, - tained, contained, of the defects of its author. These

it was positively asserted in one of our dai daily - ly daily papers, that the claim set up for Walter Scott was now almost universally admit admitted - ted admitted in Great Britain ; and this not only in the absence of every thing like proof, but in the teeth of the declaration, in the New Newcastle - castle Newcastle Magazine, that Sir Walter had ad admitted - mitted admitted he was not the author, and of other paragraphs, in late English papers, all tend tending - ing tending to demonstrate the same fact. So far indeed, from the literati in England now. entertaining the opinion attribued to them, we have every reason to believe, from the complexion of the English journals, and from conversations we have had with seve several - ral several intelligent persons lately from Great Britain, that they have nearly all given up the point. One gentleman direct from Edinburgh states, that " the idea of Walter Scott being the author of the Waverly No Novels, - vels, Novels, has been for a considerable period abandoned in that capital, and that one, venturing to hint even at the probability of the thing, would run the risk of being laughed at.'' We look for something more than bare assertion to remove the impres impression,made - sion,made impression,made by these factsand circumstances, that Walter Scott is, in no sense of the word, entitled to be considered as the au author - thor author of the Waverly Novels. The generality of those who have per persisted - sisted persisted in maintaining a contrary opinion, have adopted it without examination; and it is extremely rare to find any of them at attempting - tempting attempting to show,even on plausible grounds, ' that their opinion is well founded. They endeavor to draw support from the literary fame acquired by Scott as a poet, and from fancied analogies existing between his po poetry - etry poetry and the style and manner of the wri writer - ter writer of the novels. That Walter Scott once stood high in public estimation as a poet, is admitted. - Whether deservedly or not, is a different question. That he has not, for some time had this reputation, but stands extremely low in the opinion of the world, is evi evident - dent evident from the reception given to his Battle of Waterloo and Halidon Hill, the latest productions of his pen, and which scarcely entitle him to the third rank among the poets of the present day. It is evident by the last new novel, Peveril of the Peak, that the author of it still retains his won wonted - ted wonted vigor of mind, and feels no more diffi difficulty - culty difficulty than he did at first in giving to his novels that fascination which has rendered them so popular. Had Peveril of the Peak come from the pen of Scott, it would have , carried with it all the marks of decayed intellect, and of lack of genius, so con conspicuous - spicuous conspicuous in his latter poetical works. By a pertinalpity without example in the his history - tory history of letters, and for which no good rea reason - son reason can possibly be assigned, we find Sir Walter laying claim to works which he must know are less esteemed than his ear early - ly early publications; while his pretended friends will have it, contrary to the dec declaration - laration declaration of the Baronet himself, and in the face of decided proofs of incapacity, that he did write the extraordinary series of novels, which have not ceased, from their first appearance, to engage public atten attention, - tion, attention, and to demonstrate, that the author is now in full possession of his faculties, and promises to maintain, for many years to come, the high character which he has so justly acquired as a novelist.

them a spanker that may surprise the surpris surprisers, - ers, surprisers, and put the laugh on the other side of their mouths - and as to you, my brave little fellow/' said he turning to one Nat. White, a little Bap Baptist - tist Baptist about five feet high, who had come into camp the night before to help to fight,but with without - out without even sling or stone in his hand, "you may as well go home again, for you can do us no good, as you have no gun." "Never mind that," replied the little Baptist, "only let us come to lighting, and I'll be bound a gun will soon be put into my hands." "Very well," said Taylor, and immediately turned in, he and his men, to put their guns in prime fix, and collect heaps of fat light wood, to be all in readines for the British. Well, sure enough, exactly as Taylor had predicted, just about the hour of two in the morning, the enemy in great force, Major Weymiss at their head, came dashing up. - Spang ! tpang ! 'pung .' went the guns of the sentinels,instantly answered by Col. Middleton, officer of the day, with a voice loud as a trum trumpet,roaring - pet,roaring trumpet,roaring out, "Parade,parade,the enemy are upon you," and at same time running in, both he and the sentinels, the British close at their heels. Raging like a roused lion, Sumter rush rushed - ed rushed out to form his troops and meet the enemy. The militia started from their sleep in the dark, and under circumstances so alarming, behaved as militiamen.surprised, always will behave, i. e. they took to their "scrapers," and made them themselvs - selvs themselvs scarce, as Paddy would say, in no t me and less. Still Middleton was heard roaring along the camping ground, "Parade ! parade!" Enraged that he should thus extend the alarm, a stout British sergeant of dragoons, named Johnson, mounted on a rapid charger, dashed n ahead of his troops,in pursuit of Middleton and coming up with him hand over hand c ose to Taylor's fire, would quickly have cut hint down, when Taylor said to one of his men, whom he knew to be a prime marksman, "Tom, can't you step that bold soldier?" " I'll try, sir," said the rifleman, and grasped his firelock, but at the same time heaved a sigh, as sorrowing o k: II so brave a foe. But what could he do? That brave foe or Col. Middleton must die. - In a moment he had his rifle on the poise ; then glancing a quick eye along the shining tube till 9-14'5 - -1*twm - *99''8 "" -*"***r'd *** **17 he had brought the fatal head to bear, he gave i tire. The gallant Johnson only saw the fash; fash;pierced - pierced fash;pierced through the shattered brain, the war warrior - rior warrior dropped at once, a lump of lifeless clay and tossed from his horse with all his useless arms, was rolled over almost into one of Tay lor's fires. Swift as thought, out from his lurk ing place ran little Nat. White, and snatching up the dead man's carbine and cartouch box. flew ba k to his comrades, with a hurra my brave fellows! Ab ah, "captain Taylor, dind*. ! tell you so this morning, that if we got to fighting I should soon hive a gun put into my hands?" Presently, just as Taylor had foretolu. the British havir g fairly chased our militiamen adross Broad 'River, came swarming around Taylor's fires, thick as wild geese around the stacks of rice, and as noisy too, cursing the d-d rebels as a pack of cowardly rascals, for running off so soon without stopping to give them a little bit of fun. Their regimentals shining in the lght-wood blaze like a sea of

BOsTON, April 24. Mr. Mams' donation to the town of Quincy. - We have seen a pamphlet coa coataining - taining coataining the deeds of gift from the Hon. John Adams of several pieces of land, and of his library, to the town of Quincy, with a catalogue of the library. The first deed begins in the following terms. " Know all men by these presents, that I, John Adams of Quincy, in the county of Nor Norfolk, - folk, Norfolk, Esquire, in consideration of the vene veneration - ration veneration I feel for the residence of my an ancestors - cestors ancestors and the place of my nativity and <>f the habitual affection I bear to the inhab inhabitants, - itants, inhabitants, with whom I have so happily lived for more than eighty-six years; and of my incere desire to promote their happiness. and the instruction of their posterity in religion, morality and all ufeful arts and ' sciences, by contributing all in my power for these purposes, do hereby give, grant, &c." The instrument proceeds to de describe - scribe describe two lots of land, called the Cedar Pasture, and Mount Ararat Pasture, and to convey them to the town of Quincy up upon - on upon certain conditions, the most material of which is in the following words: "That the rent of the herbage of these pastures, together with the profits arising from the sale of wood, fuel of any kind, timber and stone, be strictly applied to the following purposes, viz: To be placed at interest in some solid fund either of the Common Commonwealth - wealth Commonwealth or of the United States, and the in interest - terest interest again placed at interest as it arises, until the amount shall be sufficient with what the town may grant, other individu individuals - als individuals subscribe, or the probable sale of the pews produce, to raise a fund for the com completing - pleting completing and furnishing of a Temple to be built of stone, to be taken from the premi premises, - ses, premises, for the public worship of God, and the public instruction in religion and mo morality, - rality, morality, for the use of the Congregational Society in that town; and next after the completion of said temple, that all the fu future - ture future rents, profits and emolument) arising from said land, be applied to the support of a school for the teaching of the Greek and Latin languages, any other languages, arts and sciences, which a majority of the ministers, magistrates, lawyers and phy physicians - sicians physicians inhabiting in the eaid town may advise. This deed was executed June 25, 1822, and the grant was accepted by vote of the town with the restrictions and con conditions - ditions conditions on the 8th of July; and a vote of thanks passed. The second deed, executed on the 25th of July, 1822, conveys six lots of land de described - scribed described thereinon the same conditions na named - med named in the first deed, with others, one of which is in the following words: " Provi Provided, - ded, Provided, that when the objects mentioned in the former deed, are obtained, a stone school house shall be erected over the cel. lar which was under the house that was anciently built by the Rev. Mr. John Han -

the Author remarks, " Punctuality in regard to appointments, is an, essential of the excellent habit of doing every thing in an orderly and seasonable manner. No man will ever be able to do business expe expeditiously - ditiously expeditiously and correctly, who has not a sta stated - ted stated time and method for all that he does Without these, if his concerns are numer-, ous, he will always be in hurry and confu confusion - sion confusion ; will do every thing imperfectly, and will after all, make but little dispatch. - Now an appointment is the fixing of a par particular - ticular particular time for a certain business of duty. If it be exactly attended to, it displaces nothing else, but leaves its proper time for every other engagement. 'I his exactness in attending to every thing in its proper season is of high importance to all busy men - to those who have the charge of con concerns - cerns concerns that are weighty as well as numer numerous, - ous, numerous, it is absolutely essential. President Washington was the most punctual man in the observance of appointments ever known to the writer. He delivered his communication to Congress, at the open opening - ing opening of each session, in person. He always appointed the hour of twelve, at noon, for this purpose; and he never failed to enter the hall of Congress while the State House clock was striking that hour. His invita invitations - tions invitations to dinner were always given for 4 o'clock, P. M. - He allowed five minutes for the variation of time pieces; and he Certain waited no longer for any one. lagging members of Congress sometimes came in when dinner was nearly half over. The writer has heard the President say to them with a smile - " Gentlemen, we are too punctual for you. I have a cook, who never asks whether the company has come, but whether the hour has come!" S. "Immortal may their memory be, "Who Fought and bled for Liberty." 'Twas in the days when Lord Rawdon occu occupied - pied occupied the little village of Columbia, and when General Winne and Col. Middleton and Capt. Th. Taylor, with their several corps under the command of Gen. Sumter, lay on the Broad River, at a place called Fish Dam Ford, waiting for recruits. Early on the fourth day of their encampment cspt. Taylor repaired to Gen. Sumter, and told him of a strong presentiment on his mind that they were to be attacked by the British on the following night. Gen Sumter treated the admonition with a smile: the truth is, if this officer had a weakness, it was but the excess of a physical strength which never felt fear. The lion all over, could not bear any thing which smelt of the fox; and always fond of fair play himself, he was slow to suspect others of treachery. Hence, even the British, tho' not much given to compliment rebels, used to rail him the "game cock," and poor Marion the "swamp Fox" - meaning, that while Marion would never show but when be bad the silvan -

blood with metal buttons and cross belts brighi as day, Taylor gave the word, and his whole platoon poured in a murderous fire,mournfully answered by the cries and groans of the wound ed and dying. Only thirty-seven guns wer werfired, - fired, werfired, and yet two and forty of the enemy came down - two of whom, in the language of that day. played poeeum. The British returnee the fire, but killed only one man. Very little more was done on either side,for the Americans retire I'with sullen joy into their darksome woods, and the British leaving so many of their dead companions, with a badly wounded Gen eral behind them, were glad to trot back to Columbia. The next morning, soon as Captain Taylor and his men returned to the ground, the British doctor came in to dress their wound ed. He happened to be an Irishman, and, as usual, a jolly sort of fellow; for as Taylor quiz zed him concerning the heavy drubbing which his countrymen (meaning the British) bad giver him last night, he replied with a mixed laugh and blush, "Arrab, 'pon my shoul now, honey, but the boot was on the wrong leg. Them d-d fellows there, out of the black swamp, played h - l with us!" Gen. Sumter too came in, and as Taylor expressed a regret that he had done no better, he replied with a mag namity that doeshim more honor than the most brilliant victory could have done, " Oh my brave fellow, do not talk so - you did wonders. I could not for my soul, think where such heavy firing came from." On searching the pocket of sergeant John son, they found a letter which he had just re ceived from his mother in London. It served to show, in what midnight darkness the minis try had contrived to keep the people of Eng England - land England with respect to the war in America. In her letter, the fund mother heartily congratulates her "dear son on the blessed news which they had just received,vie: That the rebellion inti e colonies was all happily extinguished - and tha her darling child,now that peace was restored was no longer exposed to the dangers of war - and how glad she should be to come out to see him, and be with him once more before she died." PROGRESS OF THE U. STATES. The voyage from the city of New-York to the city of Detroit, is now enjoyed as a pleasurable excursion, and Michilimarki Michilimarkinac - nac Michilimarkinac is visited by those who have a few days' leisure and an inclination * to see the world.' The great lakes Ontario, Erie and Michigan, have become familiar, like the Chesapeake bay; Huron is already pressed with the burthen of commerce.and Superior will soon have her packets for the transport of men and goods. The wilder wilderness - ness wilderness is conquered, and the busy hum of

pears to have undeceived even his most intimate friends, as to his assumed char character. - acter. character. In fact, so completely has the mask been torn off; that scarcely one of the for former - mer former admirers of Scott, or of the greatest sticklers for his renown, are to be found obtruding his name in our literary circles, or speaking in praise of his poems, while, the book-sellers, almost unanimously, ac acknowledge, - knowledge, acknowledge, that the most* celebrated of his works continue on their shelves, year after year, without being once called for. Is it possible to believe that such a man could write the Waverly Novels ? From the New Jersey Emporium. PUNCTUALITY. There are few men in active life, who have not felt more or less inconvenience from the want of punctuality in others. It would seem, that however conscientious a man may be in the great mass of human concerns, yet in regard to his observing his engagements to the minute he considers it but of little account. As for instance, I have an engagement at 10 o'clock A. M. - how common is it to say - well if I am there at eleven - it will be time enough - " it is always ten till it is eleven." - Is this not a kind of practical falsehood - is it not a kind of dishonesty when viewed in its proper light ? It is a part of the engag - ment and ought certainly to be observed strictly. - If the hour agreed upon is too early - let one later be fixed. - This subject is presented in a very strong and striking way in the second number of the Christian Advocate - a new religious monthly publication, under the direction and superintendance of Doctor Green, the last President of Nassau Hall. The extract, whi ly illustrates I duty, but alsooe is made below, not on onmerant - merant onmerant point in moral San interesting an anil - il anil Washington - ecdote or two ofc who, it is known to al life, was a very active miliar with his | id busy man, and who, without this fondness and observance of punctuality, could never have gone through the routine, and variety of his en engagements. - gagements. engagements.

in his visage. We have always, indeed, considered it as indicating the reverse of talent; at all events, of that talent which bespeaks the brilliant fancy, the powerful imagination, so essential to a good poet and writer of Romances. Often, and of often, - ten, often, have we had reason to form this opin opinion - ion opinion of Walter Scott, on witnessing the poor display which he made at the bar, and ob observing - serving observing the very limited extent of his prac practice, - tice, practice, which, had he not turned his attention to other pursuits,would have left him with without - out without the means of subsistence. At the period to which we allude, it was peculiarly the interest of every man to aid the government in its attempts to put down jacobinism ; Scott perceived this, and was not long in reaping the fruits of the zeal and activity which he displayed in meet meeting - ing meeting the views of his employers. He was rewarded, at first, by an appointment to the office of sheriff; after which he was made principal clerk of session, with a sal salary - ary salary of 3,000/. sterling per annum ; and, latterly, his vanity was gratified by having his name placed on the list of Baronets. It has been thought that the title was confer conferred - red conferred as a special mark of the sovereign's fa favor - vor favor on account of his writings. But those who have witnessed the manner in which Sir Walter evinced his hostility towards the reformers of his day, and who are ac quainted with the policy of the English government, see only one instance imthis, among thousands that could be mention mentioned, - ed, mentioned, of the unbounded liberality of that gov government - ernment government towards its most zealous instru instruments. - ments. instruments.