. In another part of the same volume, Lord
Byron is reported to have expressed a supposition that the cause of my not
avowing myself the Author of Waverley may have been some surmise that the
reigning family would have been displeased with the work. I can only say, it is
the last apprehension I should have entertained, as indeed the inscription to
these volumes sufficiently proves. The sufferers of that melancholy period have,
during the last and present reign, been honoured both with the sympathy and
protection of the reigning family, whose magnanimity can well pardon a sigh from
others, and bestow one themselves to the memory of brave opponents, who did
nothing in hate, but all in honour.
    While those who were in habitual intercourse with the real author had little
hesitation in assigning the literary property to him, others, and those critics
of no mean rank, employed themselves in investigating with persevering patience
any characteristic features which might seem to betray the origin of these
Novels. Amongst these, one gentleman, equally remarkable for the kind and
liberal tone of his criticism, the acuteness of his reasoning, and the very
gentlemanlike manner in which he conducted his inquiries, displayed not only
powers of accurate investigation, but a temper of mind deserving to be employed
on a subject of much greater importance; and I have no doubt made converts to
his opinion of almost all who thought the point worthy of consideration.2 Of
those letters, and other attempts of the same kind, the author could not
complain, though his incognito was endangered. He had challenged the public to a
game at bo-peep, and if he was discovered in his »hiding-hole,« he must submit
to the shame of detection.
    Various reports were of course circulated in various ways; some founded on
an accurate rehearsal of what may have been partly real, some on circumstances
having no concern whatever with the subject and others on the invention of some
importunate persons, who might perhaps imagine, that the readiest mode of
forcing the author to disclose himself, was to assign some dishonourable and
discreditable cause for his silence.
    It may be easily supposed that this sort of inquisition was treated with
contempt by the person whom it principally regarded; as among all the rumours
that were current, there was only one, and that as unfounded as the others,
which had nevertheless some alliance to probability, and indeed might have
proved in some degree true.
    I allude to a report which ascribed a great part, or the whole, of these
Novels to the late Thomas Scott, Esq., of the 70th Regiment, then stationed in
Canada. Those
