 been rather long) to supply, by the
assistance of art, the charms which novelty no longer affords. The publishers
have endeavoured to gratify the honourable partiality of the public for the
encouragement of British art, by illustrating this edition (1829) with designs
by the most eminent living artists.
    To my distinguished countryman, David Wilkie, to Edwin Landseer, who has
exercised his talents so much on Scottish subjects and scenery, to Messrs.
Leslie and Newton, my thanks are due, from a friend as well as an author. Nor am
I less obliged to Messrs. Cooper, Kidd, and other artists of distinction to whom
I am less personally known, for the ready zeal with which they have devoted
their talents to the same purpose.
    Further explanation respecting the Edition is the business of the
publishers, not of the Author; and here, therefore, the latter has accomplished
his task of Introduction and explanation. If, like a spoiled child, he has
sometimes abused or trifled with the indulgence of the public, he feels himself
entitled to full belief, when he exculpates himself from the charge of having
been at any time insensible of their kindness.
 
ABBOTSFORD, 1st January 1829.
 

                                 Introduction.

                                    (1829.)

The plan of this Edition leads me to insert in this place* some account of the
incidents on which the Novel of WAVERLEY is founded. They have been already
given to the public by my late lamented friend William Erskine, Esq. (afterwards
Lord Kinneder), when reviewing the Tales of My Landlord for the Quarterly
Review, in 1817. The particulars were derived by the Critic from the Author's
information. Afterwards they were published in the Preface to the Chronicles of
the Canongate. They are now inserted in their proper place.
    Other illustrations of Waverley will be found in the Notes at the foot of
the pages to which they belong. Those which appeared too long to be so placed
are given at the end of the Novel.
 

                                 Chapter First

                                 Introductory.

The title of this work has not been chosen without the grave and solid
deliberation which matters of importance demand from the prudent. Even its
first, or general denomination, was the result of no common research or
selection, although, according to the example of my predecessors, I had only to
seize upon the most sounding and euphonic surname that English history or
topography affords, and elect it at once as the title of my work, and the name
of my hero. But alas! what could my readers have expected from the chivalrous
epithets of Howard, Mordaunt, Mortimer, or Stanley, or from the softer and more
sentimental sounds
