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.

In stature, Sir Walter Scott was above six feet; but his form which had otherwise been commanding, was marred by the lameness of his right limb, which caused him considerably to limp, and ultimately to walk with difficulty. His countenance, so correctly represented in his portraits and busts, was remarkable for depth of forehead; his features have been described. His eyes, covered with thick eyelashes, were dull, unless animated by congenial conversation. He was of a fair complexion; and his hair, originally sandy, became grey after a severe illness which he suffered in his forty-eighth year. His conversation abounded in anecdotes of the old times. His memory treasured up accurately, and could readily recall, all that he had read. In fertility of invention he surpassed all his contemporaries. As a poet, if he does not possess the graceful elegance of Campbell and the fervid energy of Byron, he excels the latter in purity of sentiment, and the former in vigour of conception. His style was well adapted for the composition of lyric poetry; but as he had no ear for music, his songs are few. Several of them have been set to music, and are frequently sung. But Sir Walter's skill as a poet, great as it is, has been eclipsed by his power as a writer of fiction; the Waverley Novels will be forgotten only when the English language is disused. A cabinet edition of his novels, illustrated with elegant engravings, appeared in forty-eight volumes shortly before his decease. Numerous editions were issued by Mr Cadell; and Messrs Adam and Charles Black, the present possessors of the copyright, have distinguished themselves not only by producing several elegant library editions, but by placing within reach of the humblest artisan those instructive, interesting, and admirable works. From a gentleman, who was many years manager of Mr Cadell's publishing house, we have received some details respecting the production of Sir Walter's publications, which seem worthy of being recorded. Down to October 1856 there had, writes our informant, been printed of his Works and Life, 7,967,369 volumes, in which had been used 99,592 reams of paper, weighing 1245 tons. Mr Cadell's "People's Editions" exhausted 227,631 reams, or 2848 tons. The gross weight of paper in Mr Cadell's original and cheap editions amounted to 4093 tons. The sheets of paper used in the entire works were 106,542,438, which, laid side by side, would cover 3363 square miles.

Sir Walter Scott lived at a period when indifference to religion among men of letters, even in Scotland, was by no means uncommon, and many of his contemporaries were, it is to be feared, most imperfectly influenced with proper views of Christian obligation. With sentiments of indifference on a theme so important, Sir Walter had no sympathy. While contemning sectarian exclusiveness, and abhorring superstition, he was zealous in maintaining sound Scriptural doctrine, and he discouraged the utterance of every sentiment which savoured of profanity or bordered on scepticism. His "Religious Discourses," published anonymously, indicate deep moral earnestness, while his hymn on the "Day of Judgment" attests the sincerity of his devotion.

Desirous that these brief memorials might contain some additional testimony to the religious earnestness of one who occupies so prominent a place in national and literary history, we requested our venerated friend Dean Ramsay to state his impressions of Sir Walter's personal bearing during his residence at Abbotsford after Lady Scott's death, and before her funeral. To our request the Dean, with his usual courtesy, acceded. He writes thus:

"You ask me the impression left on my mind by my visit to Abbotsford on the occasion of Lady Scott's death. It is indeed a very easy and a very pleasing office to give you that impression. I could not but feel all the time I was