452 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



and water, would, if instituted by a Radical in the Reformed Parlia- 

 ment, have made every magistrate in the three kingdoms start' astounded 

 upon the bench, or swoon in the arms of his clerk. But magistrates rush 

 in where moralists fear to tread. " Robes and furred gowns hide all." 



Where the system thus commenced is to end, we care not to predict. 

 Of course Mr. Gregorie, after this, will be for confiscating the property 

 (although acknowledged by himself to be lawfully obtained) of all sub- 

 jects that are committed by him ; but we do not choose to speculate 

 upon the possibility of the plan being extended to the watches of prose- 

 cutors as well as prisoners, though it is plain that the powers of the 

 bench have few limitations under the present system. All that can be 

 done is, to hope that he will sell the watch, &c. to the highest bidder 

 that no officer may be permitted to buy it in at a convenient sum that 

 he will see that the governor actually gets the money and that the 

 balance, if any, will be paid to the prisoner upon his discharge. Other- 

 wise he will be more than ever prepared to steal watches, seeing that 

 the law itself sets him a practical example, and shews itself superior to 

 all vulgar prejudices thereunto approaching. 



THE AUTHOR OP WAVERLY. All that was mortal of the Author of 

 Waverley, has at length partaken of the common fate of mortality. The 

 magician has worked his last spell his wand is withered his book is 

 clasped and his appointed labours are done ! Wonderful have they 

 been, and grateful should the world be to a spirit to who^^t is indebted 

 for such manifold moral blessings and intellectual enjoymems. 



The Author of waverly is dead ! He expired at Abbotsford, on 

 Friday, the 21st of September. The event had been too long and too 

 surely anticipated to create any sudden shock upon the minds 

 of the thousands that had fed for so many years upon the fruits of 

 his genius ; yet the grief and regret are not less deeply seated, because 

 we had been prepared for their coming. Even if it were so, the event 

 itself is coupled with other things of which we had no previous know- 

 ledge, and which must impress every reader of the magnificent produc- 

 tions of the mighty novelist every lover of literature every respecter 

 of the rights and claims of genius wkh unaffected sorrow on the one 

 hand, and resentment on the other. 



We allude to the information concerning the insolvency of Sir Walter 

 Scott, and the anticipated necessity of bringing Abbotsford the scene 

 of his triumphs and his trials where he enjoyed his unprecedented 

 fame, and endured his pecuniary reverses of fortune the spot which he 

 loved in life, and which,, when struck with death, he was so eager to 

 breathe his last in Abbotsford ; of bringing this his chosen retreat to 

 the hammer. But if such a termination to all his labours be calculated 

 to excite the most saddening reflections, it also awakens a corresponding 

 depth of resentment towards those who could calmly look on and 

 contemplate the inevitable result, while he whom they professed to 

 venerate, whom they almost worshipped, whom they hailed as the intel- 

 lectual monarch of Scotland, was hourly sinking under the trials, exer- 

 tions, and mortifications which it inspired. The fact is now undeniable. 

 Sir Walter Scott has fallen a martyr to his pecuniary embarrassments ! 

 A fact more mournful it itself, more humiliating, more degrading to the 

 aristocracy of this country, and to that of Scotland, especially, can 

 scarcely be conceived. 



