Rapid growth in a constitution which continued delicate till his fifteenth year, led to his bursting a blood-vessel. While precluded from active duty, being closely confined to his bed, and not allowed to exert himself by speaking, he was yet permitted to read, a privilege of which he largely availed himself. To complete his recovery, he was recommended exercise on horseback; and in obeying his physician, he gratified his own inclinations by visiting localities famous in history or tradition. When his health was restored, he engaged in the study of law, which he did seriously. After passing the requisite examinations, he was on the 10th July 1792, called to the Bar. At the age of twelve he had composed some verses for his preceptor, Dr Adam; but he seems in early life to have written little poetry, while his prose compositions lacked force of thought and ease of diction. As an advocate his manner was not very attractive, and both suitors and their agents had obtained the notion, not quite unfounded, that the young barrister was more inclined to literary than legal pursuits. Scott was not unconscious of the popular judgment, and began to dream of independence in other spheres. He thought of marriage. He courted unsuccessfully Miss Williamina Stuart, whose mother had been his own mother's early friend, and who was personally an heiress. She refused him, and with a heart stung by disappointment, and ready to seek relief on the first fitting opportunity, he at the rising of the Court in July 1797, joined a little party of friends in a tour to Cumberland. Not long after, a charming brunette at Gilsland Spa arrested his fancy and stole his affection. She was an attractive young Frenchwoman, a ward of Lord Downshire, and under the temporary protection of a respected English clergyman. After a short acquaintance Scott proposed and was accepted. He was married in St Mary's Church, Carlisle, on the 24th December 1797. With less haste he might have married more advantageously. As it was, he was now free from any apprehension about the means of living, for his wife, Charlotte Charpentier, possessed an annuity of £200. His own finances were materially increased in 1800, when he became Sheriff of Selkirkshire, with a salary of £300.
While in his father's office Scott had studied French and Italian, and made himself familiar with the writings of Tasso and Ariosto. Afterwards he obtained an acquaintance with German ballad poetry, through the translations of Mr Lewis. In 1796, he made his début as an author, by publishing translations of "Lenoré" and "The Wild Huntsman" of Bürger. The attempt was unsuccessful. A second time he essayed his skill as a translator, by publishing in 1799, an English version of Goethe's "Goetz of Berlichingen." It was better received, but his fame was destined to rest on a more substantial basis than on the art of translation.
The ballads and songs of the south of Scotland, preserved among the peasantry, had at an early period occupied his attention. He now made excursions to Liddesdale in quest of these interesting remains; and the fruits of his research, along with much curious information, he gave to the world in 1802, in two octavo volumes, entitled "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border."' He afterwards added a third volume, consisting of imitations of ancient ballads, composed by himself and others. These volumes were issued from the printing press of his early friend, James Ballantyne of Kelso, who had already begun to indicate his skill as a typographer.
In 1804, he published from the Auchinleck Manuscript, the ancient metrical tale of "Sir Tristrem." In an introduction, he endeavoured to show that it was composed by Thomas of Ercildoune, better known as the Rhymer. "The Lay of the Last Minstrel," a ballad poem, appeared from his pen in 1805, and obtaining an extensive circulation, procured for him poetical fame and an immediate profit of £600.
Scott's prosperity rose with his reputation. In 1806 he was appointed a principal clerk in the Court of Session, an office which afterwards yielded him £1200 per annum. To literary work he henceforth dedicated the intervals of leisure. In 1808 he produced "Marmion," his second great poem, which brought him £1000, and materially increased his fame. During the same year he edited the works of Dryden, in eighteen volumes. In 1809 he edited the "State Papers and Letters of Sir Ralph Sadler," and became a contributor to the "Edinburgh Annual Register," conducted by Southey. "The Lady of the Lake," the most happily-conceived of his poetical works, appeared in 1810; "Don Roderick," in 1811; "Rokeby," in 1813; and "The Lord of the Isles," in 1814. "Harold the Dauntless," and "The Bridal of Triermain," appeared subsequently.
After the publication of "Marmion," Mr Alexander Gibson Hunter of Blackness, partner in the publishing house of Constable & Co., a gentleman of superior culture, entreated the author to dedicate his talents to prose fiction, with the prediction that he would in this department attain an eminence unrivalled in literature.* Scott did not readily accept the proffered counsel; he dreaded that by sailing in unexplored waters he might make shipwreck of his poetical laurels. A prose tale which he had commenced in 1805, was on this account laid aside; and when it was again taken up and completed, and under the title of "Waverley" given to the world, it was without the authors name. This was in 1814, when Sir Walter was in his 43rd year. "Waverley" sold slowly at first, but after some favourable criticisms the demand steadily increased till twelve thousand copies were put into circulation. Having attained such an earnest of success as a writer of fiction, he chose in this department to maintain his original incognito, abundantly content to rest his personal distinction on his celebrity as a poet. The author of "Waverley" accordingly soon passed into "The Great Unknown;" and the rapidity with which this mysterious character produced a succession of entertaining romances became one of the marvels of the age; while attempts to withdraw the curtain which concealed his individuality proved comparatively unavailing. Each year gave birth to one-often two-novels, of a class infinitely superior to the romances of the past age, and all having reference to the manners and customs of the most interesting and chivalrous periods of Scottish or British history. Subsequent to the publication of "Guy Mannering" and "The Antiquary," in 1815 and 1816, and as an expedient to sustain public interest, a series of novels was commenced, under the title of "Tales of my Landlord," these being professedly written by a different author; but this resort was afterwards abandoned. Every romance by the author of "Waverley" awakened renewed enthusiasm, and commanded a universal circulation throughout Britain and America. In 1814 Scott published an edition of Swift's works in nineteen octavo volumes. For some years after his marriage he occupied a cottage at Lasswade; in 1804 he removed to Ashestiel, a mansion situated on the banks of the Tweed, near Innerleithen, where for several years he continued to reside during the vacation of the Court. His ruling desire was, to acquire an ample demesne, and thus to realise in his own person, and by his representatives, somewhat of the territorial importance of those old barons, whose wassails and feuds he delighted to celebrate. To attain such a distinction he was prepared to incur many sacrifices; nor in comparison did he value the highest literary honours. In 1811 he purchased, on the south bank of the Tweed, near Melrose, the little farm of Clarty Hole, the first portion of that estate which under the name of Abbotsford has become indelibly associated with his name. The soil was wet and unpromising, but by a course of agricultural appliances the place began to display considerable amenities. The mansion, a curious amalgamation of different styles of Scottish manorial architecture, was partly built in 1811, and gradually extended with the increasing emoluments of the owner. By successive purchases the Abbotsford property was increased till the rental amounted to about £700 a year, a return not too great for an expenditure of at least £50,000.
* See Letter from Archibald Constable to Mr Hunter's son,
David Hunter, Esq., now of Blackness, dated "Edinburgh, 26th
March 1825: Century of Scottish Life, Edinb. 1871, pp. 82,
83." Mr A. G. Hunter of Blackness died on the 9th March
1812, aged forty-one. His remains were interred in the
Greyfriars Churchyard.
At Abbotsford Scott maintained the character of a country gentleman. He was visited by distinguished persons from the sister kingdom, from the Continent, and from America, all of whom he elegantly entertained. Nor did his constant intercourse with his visitors interfere with the regular prosecution of his literary labours: he rose at six, and engaged in composition till breakfast, and afterwards till one o'clock. While in the country he devoted the rest of the day to exercise on horseback, the superintendence of improvements on his estate, and the entertainment of his guests. In March 1820, George IV., to whom he was personally known, and who was a warm admirer of his genius, created him a baronet, the first titular honour which he bestowed after his accession. Besides the works enumerated, he had already given to the world his romances of "The Black Dwarf," "Old Mortality," "Rob Roy," "The Heart of Midlothian," "The Bride of Lammermoor," "A Legend of Montrose," and "Ivanhoe." The attainment of the baronetcy stimulated him to increased literary ardour. "Ivanhoe" appeared early in 1820, and during the same year he produced "The Monastery" and "The Abbot;" and in the beginning of 1821, the romance of "Kenilworth," being twelve volumes within twelve months. "The Pirate" and "The Fortunes of Nigel" appeared in 1822; "Peveril of the Peak" and "Quentin Durward" in 1823; "St Ronan's Well" and "Redgauntlet" in 1824; and the "Tales of the Crusaders" in 1825.
During the royal visit to Scotland in 1822, Sir Walter was, by general consent, constituted Master of Ceremonies, and the duties he discharged to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign and of the nation. But while prosperity seemed to smile upon him with increasing lustre, adversity hovered near. In 1826, Archibald Constable & Company, the publishers of his works, became insolvent, involving in their bankruptcy the printing firm of the Messrs Ballantyne, of which he was a partner. For the sum of £120,000, Sir Walter was found to be individually responsible. On a mind less securely balanced, the wrecked hopes of a lifetime would have produced irretrievable despondency; but Sir Walter bore his misfortune with magnanimous resignation. To both the establishments which had involved him in their fall, he had been largely indebted, and he felt bound in honour, not less than by legal obligation, fully to discharge his debt. An offer by the creditors to accept a composition he declined, and claiming only to be allowed time, applied himself to his undertaking, with the full determination, if his life was spared, to cancel every obligation. At the crisis of his embarrassments, he was engaged in the composition of "Woodstock," which soon afterwards appeared. The "Life of Napoleon," which had for a considerable time occupied his attention, was published in 1827, in nine octavo volumes. In the course of preparing it, he visited London and Paris in search of materials. In the same year he produced "Chronicles of the Canongate," first series; and in the year following, the second series of those charming tales, and the first portion of his "Tales of a Grandfather." A second portion of these latter tales appeared in 1829, and the third and concluding series in 1830, when he also contributed a "History of Scotland," in two volumes, to "Lardner's Cyclopedia." In 1829 likewise appeared "Anne of Geierstein," and in 1830 the "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft." In 1831 he produced a series of "Tales on French History," uniform with the "Tales of a Grandfather," and his novels "Count Robert of Paris," and "Castle Dangerous," as a fourth series of "Tales of my Landlord." Other productions of less importance appeared from his pen: he contributed to the Edinburgh Review, during the first year of its existence; wrote the articles "Chivalry," "Romance," and "Drama," for the sixth edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica;" and during his latter years frequently contributed to the Quarterly Review.
At a public dinner in Edinburgh, for the benefit of the Theatrical Fund, on the 23d of February 1827, Sir Walter first publicly avowed himself author of the Waverley Novels-an announcement which scarcely took the public by surprise. His physical energies were now suffering a rapid decline, and in his increasing infirmities, and liability to sudden and severe attacks of pain, and even of unconsciousness, it became evident to his friends that in the praiseworthy effort to liquidate his obligations he was sacrificing his health. Those apprehensions proved not without foundation. In the autumn of 1831, his health became so lamentably broken, that his medical advisers recommended a residence in Italy, and entire cessation from mental labour, as the only means of restoring his energies. This counsel came too late; the patient proceeded to Naples, and afterwards to Rome, but experiencing no benefit from the change, he was rapidly conveyed home in the following summer, in obedience to his own express wish, that he might close his eyes at Abbotsford. The wish was gratified; he arrived at Abbotsford on the 11th of July 1832, and survived till the 21st of the ensuing September. As he had desired, his remains were interred in an aisle of Dryburgh Abbey, which had belonged to his ancestors, and had been specially granted him by the Earl of Buchan. A massive block of marble rests upon the grave, in juxtaposition with another which has been laid on that of Lady Scott, who died in May 1826.