CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. PAGE Illustrations continued-Scott's Apprenticeship to his Father First Expedition into Liddesdale-Study of German-Politi- Publication of Ballads after Bürger-Scott Quarter-Master of Early Married Life-Lasswade Cottage — Monk Lewis- Translation of Goetz Von Berlichingen, published—Visit to London-House of Aspen-Death of Scott's Father—First Original Ballads-Glenfinlas, &c.—Unpublished Fragments --Appointment to the Sheriffship of Selkirkshire-1798-1799, 285 The Border Minstrelsy in Preparation—Richard Heber-John Leyden-William Laidlaw-James Hogg-Correspondence Preparation of Volume III. of the Minstrelsy—and of Sir Tris- trem-Correspondence with Miss Seward and Mr Ellis- Ballad of the Reiver's Wedding-Commencement of the MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. CHAPTER I. MEMOIR OF THE EARLY LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, Ashestiel, April 26th, 1808. THE present age has discovered a desire, or rather a rage, for literary anecdote and private history, that may be well permitted to alarm one who has engaged in a certain degree the attention of the public. That I have had more than my own share of popularity, my contemporaries will be as ready to admit, as I am to confess that its measure has exceeded not only my hopes, but my merits, and even wishes. I may be therefore permitted, without an extraordinary degree of vanity, to take the precaution of recording a few leading circumstances (they do not merit the name of events) of a very quiet and uniform life-that, should my literary reputation survive my temporal existence, the public may know from good authority all that they are entitled to know of an individual who has contributed to their amusement. |