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THE

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1829.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

HISTORICAL ERRORS IN SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NOVELS.

Mr. URBAN,

PERMIT

Paris, Dec. 3. me to solicit from some of your erudite Correspondents, a definition of the latitude which in a work of fiction is allowed to the author to depart from historical accuracy; in other words, to describe the limits of the Poetic License. The subject has become of some importance on account of the great and justly merited popularity of the Waverley Novels; many of which, however, contain anachronisms and other historical errors. Although I am a decided admirer of Sir Walter Scott's writings, the following remarks would almost imply the contrary; but as that author is now revising the whole of his truly interesting narratives, the indication of a few blemishes will assist him in his corrections.

Before I proceed to point out some mistakes which are unnecessarily wide of the mark, it may not be amiss to notice the great difference between the novels of the old and those of the new school. The works of Le Sage, Fielding, De Foe, and Smollett, are well known, and widely circulated; nobody reads them without pleasure; and they all contain so true a representation of nature, that scarce an incident is to be found in them which has not really occurred; while in concentrating the events into the experience of an individual, the illusion is not exposed to detection, as the names are fictitious. At the same time, the satisfaction with which we read the Arabian Nights, the Old English Baron, and other decided romances, is a proof that bare undisguised fiction is allowable; and if more evidence were requisite, we need only refer to the popularity of the Pilgrim's Progress.

Why then, it may be asked, is the author of Waverley to be censured for

a few anachronisms? For the same reason, which has contributed so much to his popularity, his novels are descriptions of the manners of given periods, and fanciful accounts of particular events; which events being, in general, so well known to have taken place, afford the means of detecting any mis-statement respecting them. The novels of the old school are for entertainment (almost exclusively) with the multitude, while they afford instruction to the few, who, like the student in the preface to Gil Blas, know how to look beyond the surface for hidden treasure. On the other hand, the Waverley novels, and those following that model, are historical in their nature, and become of public importance from the feelings they excite. The ancestors of many existing families figure in some of them, and there are few persons who can read unmoved the description of scenes in which their forefathers were concerned. And this observation extends to all classes, for our lines of ancestry are all equally long, although all may not equally be able to trace the pedigree. The most humble Englishman, whose name implies a Saxon origin, must feel indig nant at the hauteur of the Normans, on reading Ivanhoe; and a native of Wales will certainly experience strong emotions while perusing the tale of The Betrothed.

The writings of Sir Walter Scott abound with most beautiful descriptions of the passions of the personages, and with unrivalled landscape-like accounts of the places where the events have occurred; they require no eulogy from my humble pen; but as they are the lure to entice the thoughties reader to the study of past times, 1: seems the more necessary that the his. torical observations, winch ar

[ 482 ]

MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

P. 172, for Deri-nane read Derrinane. P. 175. Lady Eleanor Butler and her sisters assumed the rank of Earl's daughters on their brother's being acknowledged as Earl of Ormonde by the House of Lords in 1791. His Lordship claimed the title on the principle that the attainder of the great Duke of Ormonde did not affect the Irish honors. This being admitted, it followed that the father of Lady Eleanor was entitled to the Earldom, though not aware of his right. The attainted Duke, for the attainder of course was valid as to the English dignities,—was thus Duke of Ormonde, &c. in Ireland, at his death; and his next brother, the Earl of Arran, though also not aware of his legal right, was third Duke. On his decease, the Dukedom and Marquisate became extinct, but the Earldom vested in the male heir, John Butler, esq. of Kilcash, as fifteenth Earl; he died in 1766, without issue; when the representa tion of the family devolved on Walter Butler of Garryricken (sixteenth Earl), father of John Butler, admitted in 1791, as the seventeenth Earl of Ormonde, &c. on which occasion his mother assumed the title of Countess dowager, and his sisters the rank of Earl's daughters, to which they were clearly entitled, though their father was known only as Walter Butler, esq. all his life-time.

P. 174. Lord Clermont's descent from Earl Fortescue's family was not a mere presumption. It was an undoubted fact. See Lodge. The Viscount bequeathed his chief estates to his nephew, Sir Henry Goodricke, Bart. of Ribstan in Yorkshire.

P. 362. Read Major-Gen. Hon. Sir R. W. O'Callaghan.

Same page, for Col. Mahon read Col. Mac Mahon.

P. M. remarks, that Lady Head (p. 368) was the daughter of Chief Justice Holt, and sister to Rowland Holt, esq. of Redgrave, M.P. for Suffolk, and to Mary (not Jane) Countess of Haddington. Sir Thomas Head had a brother, the Rev. Richard Head, Vicar of Chevely in Berkshire. He had issue Harriet-James Head, who married the Rev. Morgan Graves, late Rector of Redgrave cum Botesdale, and of Hinderclay in Suffolk, to which preferment he succeeded through the interest of the Head family. Sir Thomas Head had also a sister, Jane Head, who married Edward Horne, esq. of Bevis Mount, Southampton, by whom she had issue Jane, who married her first cousin Edward Horne, esq. of Bevis Mount. She died lately at an advanced age.-It may also

be remarked, that Rowland Holt, esq. had another sister besides the two before mentioned. She married to George Wilson, esq. barrister at law, by whom she had issue Admiral George Wilson of Redgrave Hall, who died in 1826, and has a memoir in vol. XCVI. i. 273. The Admiral left four sons, of whom the eldest is the proprietor of that magnificent mansion, and two daughters."

W. B. is referred to Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. I. p. 189, for some account of the preferments and publications of Dr. Francis Hutchinson, Bishop of Down and Connor, and author of the well-known “Essay concerning Witchcraft."

In our memoir of the late John Reeves, esq. (p. 468), his History of the English Law was stated to be 4 vols. 8vo, but a 5th volume, with an Index to the work, was published last year, containing the reign of Elizabeth, which was, at his request, printed from his own manuscript.

AN ETYMOLOGIST inquires the origin and meaning of the word Lee or Lea, as it is occasionally spelt in the well-known ancient popular ballad,

London Bridge is broken down,
Dance over Lady Lee;
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.

Whether, as seems to be the opinion of the author of that highly curious and elaborate work, 'The Chronicles of London Bridge' (p. 150), it has reference to the river Lea ; or whether, as a scarcely less redoubtable antiquary imagines, it simply implies dancing over a Lea or meadow; so forming the burthen, or rather chorus, of the ditty.

X. Y. Z. and other inquirers after the history of unimportant private families, are referred to the College of Arms.

*

Our SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER, to be published Feb. 1, 1880, will be embellished with Views of St. Anne's Church, Wandsworth, and Stepney Chapel, with descriptions; and will contain, among a variety of other articles, a dissertation on the Rise and Progress of Witchcraft; Altarpiece at Romsey described; Stray Thoughts on Language and Literature; account of Whaplode, co. Lincoln, with Engravings; Col. Macdonald on the North-west Magnetic Variation, with Engravings, &c.-Reviews of Oliver's Conventual Church of St. James, Great Grimsby; King Alfred's Boethius; Colls on Infant Baptism; the conclusion of the interesting Memoir of Dr. Gaskin, &c. &c.

THE

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1829.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

HISTORICAL ERRORS IN SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NOvels.

Mr. URBAN,

PERMIT

Paris, Dec. 3. me to solicit from some of your erudite Correspondents, a definition of the latitude which in a work of fiction is allowed to the author to depart from historical accuracy; in other words, to describe the limits of the Poetic License. The subject has become of some importance on account of the great and justly merited popularity of the Waverley Novels; many of which, however, contain anachronisms and other historical errors. Although I am a decided admirer of Sir Walter Scott's writings, the following remarks would almost imply the contrary; but as that author is now revising the whole of his truly interesting narratives, the indication of a few blemishes will assist him in his corrections.

Before I proceed to point out some mistakes which are unnecessarily wide of the mark, it may not be amiss to notice the great difference between the novels of the old and those of the new school. The works of Le Sage, Fielding, De Foe, and Smollett, are well known, and widely circulated; nobody reads them without pleasure; and they all contain so true a representation of nature, that scarce an incident is to be found in them which has not really occurred; while in concentrating the events into the experience of an individual, the illusion is not exposed to detection, as the names are fictitious. At the same time, the satisfaction with which we read the Arabian Nights, the Old English Baron, and other decided romances, is a proof that bare undisguised fiction is allowable; and if more evidence were requisite, we need only refer to the popularity of the Pilgrim's Progress.

Why then, it may be asked, is the author of Waverley to be censured for

a few anachronisms? For the same reason, which has contributed so much to his popularity, his novels are descriptions of the manners of given periods, and fanciful accounts of particular events; which events being, in general, so well known to have taken place, afford the means of detecting any mis-statement respecting them. The novels of the old school are for entertainment (almost exclusively) with the multitude, while they afford instruction to the few, who, like the student in the preface to Gil Blas, know how to look beyond the surface for hidden treasure. On the other hand, the Waverley novels, and those following that model, are historical in their nature, and become of public importance from the feelings they excite. The ancestors of many existing families figure in some of them, and there are few persons who can read unmoved the description of scenes in which their forefathers were concerned. And this observation extends to all classes, for our lines of ancestry are all equally long, although all may not equally be able to trace the pedigree. The most humble Englishman, whose name implies a Saxon origin, must feel indignant at the hauteur of the Normans, on reading Ivanhoe; and a native of Wales will certainly experience strong emotions while perusing the tale of The Betrothed.

The writings of Sir Walter Scott abound with most beautiful descriptions of the passions of the personages, and with unrivalled landscape-like accounts of the places where the events have occurred; they require no eulogy from my humble pen; but as they are the lure to entice the thoughtless reader to the study of past times, it seems the more necessary that the historical observations, which are inter

484
spersed, should be correct. I do not
pretend to analyse the whole series of
the Waverley novels; but having di-
rected the author's attention to the
defects of some, his discernment will
enable him to detect others.

Historical Errors in Sir Walter Scott's Novels.

In the Talisman, King Richard, when speaking of Philip Augustus, is made to call him Philip of France and Navarre: and, on another occasion, he swears by St. Louis; a reference to the list of the kings of France would have shewn the author, that St. Louis was the grandson of Philip Augustus and that Henry IV. was the first King of France and Navarre.

In the Fair Maid of Perth, the old glover and his daughter prepare to attend evening service at the Blackfriars church; we soon after find they enter the Dominican church where High Mass is perforined; and in the next chapter we learn that Catherine's confessor is Father Francis, the Dominican. It has escaped Sir Walter's notice, first, that High Mass is never performed in the evening; it is a positive regulation of the Church of Rome, to which there is but one exception, the midnight mass of Christmas eve; secondly, that

the Dominican monks were called White Friars; and third, that the Dominicans and Franciscans being always at variance with each other, it would have been better to have given the confessor any other name than Francis. It is scarcely necessary to mention here, that on joining a convent the neophyte assumes a new name, and that it is improbable that any Dominican would place himself under the protection of

St. Francis.

In Ivanhoe (chapter 7) there is an error so glaring that it renders refutation almost superfluous: Robin Hood comes in contact with Prince John, and while they are speaking, a bystander calls out that he (Robin Hood) could hit Wat Tyrrell's mark at 100 yards upon which Sir Walter remarks, this allusion to the death of William Rufus, his grandfather, at once incensed and alarmed Prince John." Further on (chap. 13) when that prince receives a letter from the King of France, announcing King Richard's enlargement, the seal is described as bearing three fleurs-de-lis. An antiquary, like Sir Walter, ought to have been aware that the arms of France were then seme, and it was not

[Dec.

till Edward II. had quartered them
that they were reduced to three. One
of the English Monarchs (Henry V.
I believe,) afterwards made a similar
alteration in his escutcheon.
Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

A

W. S. B.

Staffordshire Moorlands, Dec. 1. S your article on the New Post tirely to its modern economy, and has scarcely an allusion to that important branch the Twopenny Post, a few brief additions, with some notices of its early state, gleaned from various quarters, may not be uninteresting.

The utility of the Post Office at the outset, seems to have been so little appreciated, that, even so long as thirteen years after the Restoration, we find, from Blome's "Britannia," many people were almost ignorant of its existence. He says:

"For the better information of all such as

have occasion of conveyance of letters into any part of England, which before made use of that tedious way by wagon, carrier, or stagecoach, as not fully knowing this great conveniency, this is to inform them that the inhabitants of this nation have of late years, by a general Post-Office, an exceeding great conveniency in the conveyance of letters to most parts of the kingdom; and that at such easie rates, and with such quick dispatch, that in five dayes an answer may be received, though 250 miles; and, if but a letter of a single sheet of paper, for the expence of 3d.; but if of a greater bulk, then after the rate of 8d. per ounce; and if under 80 miles, then 2d. for a single letter. And

if to Scotland 5d., and to Ireland 6d. for

single letters.

"The profits of this great Office, by Act of Parliament, is granted unto H.R.H. the Duke of York, under whom are abundance of officers, who continually give their attendance, under a yearly (and some a weekly) salary, each being appointed to, and knowing, his respective imployment. And, upon the grand Post Office, which is kept in London, there depends 182 deputy Postmasters in England and Scotland, most of which keep their offices in their stages, and have sub-postmasters in their branches out to Market-towns, not seated in the high roads: so that there is scarce any markettown of note, but hath the benefit of the conveyance of letters to and fro.

"The answers that are received, are delivered (if in London) to the letter-porters, who speedily carry them, according to the directions, and ought to demand no more

1829.]

Early History of the Penny Post.

then what is charged by the Office for bringing the same; yet, if one hath not a care, some of them will require money where none should be paid."

Three years later, an acquaintance with the nature of the Post Office was still far from being universally diffused, or the conductors would not have found it necessary to publish the following advertisement, which occurs in the London Gazette, 8 April, 1678: "All persons are desired to take notice, that there is a settled and safe conveyance of letters and pacquets by post, three times in every week, upon the usual post-days, to and from the City of London, and the towns hereafter mentioned in the counties of Surrey and Sussex, viz. Epsom, Leatherhead, Darking, Gilford, Farnham, Godalmin, Has lemore, Midhurst, Petworth, Horseham, Arundel, Stayning, Shoreham, Brighthelmstone, Lewes, and Eastbourne; so that a correspondence may be had between all or any of the said places; and no money is required till the letters are delivered, and then only such rates as are established by Act of Parliament."

The account of the Post Office in Delaune's "Present State of London," 1681, is nearly the same as that given in the above extract from Blome, save that the rate of conveyance appears to have become somewhat more expeditious in the lapse of eight years; for whereas Blome boasts that letters might be sent 250 miles, and answers received, in five days, Delaune tells us that answers might then be had in the same time,"from a place 300 miles distant from the writer;" and "though (he proceeds) the number of letters missive in England were not at all considerable in our ancestors' time, yet it is now so prodigiously great, (since the meanest people have generally learnt to write,) that this Öffice is farmed for above 40 or rather 50,000l. a_year.”

What he adds, as to the improvement in coach-travelling, though not iminediately connected with the subject, is too exquisite to be omitted:

"Besides this excellent convenience of conveying letters, there is of late such an admirable commodiousness, both for men and women of better rank, to travel from London, and to almost all the villages near this great city, that the like hath not been known in the world; and that is, by StageCoaches, wherein one may be transported to any place, sheltred from foul weather,

485

and foul ways, free from endamaging one's health or body by hard jogging, or over vio lent motion; and this, not only at a low price, as about a shilling for every five miles, but with such velocity and speed, as that the Posts in some foreign countries_make not more miles in a day; for the StageCoaches called Flying-Coaches make forty or fifty miles in a day, as from London to Oxford or Cambridge, and that in the space of twelve hours (not counting the time for dining), setting forth not too early, nor coming in too late. Moreover, if any gentlemen desire to ride post, to any principal town in England, post-horses are always in readiness, (taking no horse without the consent of his owner, which in other Kings' reigns was not duly observed,) and only 3d. is demanded for every English mile, and for every stage, to the post-boy, 4d. for conducting."

Delaune, however, devotes his chief attention to "that ingenious undertaking, the Penny-Post," which having, as he tells us, heard disparaged by some censorious persons, he examined the reasons, and found it opposed by none but the ignorant, or such as preferred some particular ends before public utility, who persuaded H.R.H. the Duke of York, that it damnified the General Post Office; whereupon many actions were brought, and a chargeable suit of law followed." He then, upon the authority of "one of the gentlemen concerned," subjoins a long narrative of its rise and progress, the substance of which I annex:

"This useful invention is little more than a year old, being begun in April 1680. The chief undertaker that introduced it into practice, is one Mr. William Dockwra, merchant, a native and citizen of London, with a nubeing forsaken by some others soon after it merous family of eight young children; who began, aud left to shift for himself, carried on this undertaking singly, for above half a year, at his own proper charge and hazard, against all the difficulties, oppositions, and discouragements, that attended it, though now he hath several citizens in partnership with him. But I am truly informed that the income does not yet amount to threefourths of the necessary charge to support it.

"This Penny-Post is thus managed.— The principal office, to which all accompts, &c. are daily transmitted, is in Lyme-street, at the dwelling-house of the said Mr. Dockwra, formerly the mansion-house of Sir Robert Abdy, knt.

"There are seven sorting-houses, proper to the seven precincts into which the undertakers have divided London, Westminster, and the suburbs, situated at equal distances,

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