Great Writers : Life of Sir Walter Scott. By Charles
Duke Yonge. (Walter Scott.)—It is fitting that the series of biographies edited by Professor Robertson should include a life of Scott, whose claims as a great writer are not to be disputed. In one respect Mr. Yonge is well qualified for his task, since he writes with a generous enthusiasm for Sir Walter's genius. There is less of narrative in the volume than of criticism, and this is perhaps excusable, as the facts related in Lockhart's Life of his father-in-law are familiar to most readers. Mr. Yonge, however, is not always a discriminative critic, and his feelings are stronger than his judgment. To write of Byron's exquisite melody of rhythm and unrivalled mastery of language, is to praise that poet for his most prominent weakness. Scott's heroines, with two or three excep- tions, are not drawn, either in his poems or novels, with the power exhibited in subordinate characters. Jeanie Deans is immortal, and so are Di Vernon and Rebecca; but there are far more marks of the writer's genius in the portrayal of Manse Headrigg than of Edith Bellenden, of Meg Merrilies than of Julia Mannering, of Elspeth than of Isabella Wardour. Mr. Yonge thinks otherwise, and observes of Scott's heroines generally, that the perfection of the execution is worthy of the high purity of the conception, and adds,—" Even women in a lower sphere of life are delineated with a care and delicacy that betoken Scott's wide and keen sympathy with every kind of excellence." This is true; but surely Mr. Yonge has inverted the order of excellence. Again, we do not understand the author's criticism when he writes of " St. Ronan's Well " as a mere novel of society, and as such not claiming to stand on the same level with works of a higher class. Surely it is not the class to which a novel belongs that determines its level. If it were so, we suppose it would be right to prefer James's historical novels to Jane Austen's " Emma," and " The Last Days of Pompeii " to " David Copperfield." We may add, with a view to a second edition of the Life being called for, that we have noted two or three inaccuracies in the poetical quotations, and several awkward passages that need careful revision. The following sentence, referring to Scott's action as a Volunteer, would be better, to say the least, for rearrangement, as at present it is neither English nor sense :—" Some of his arrangements for the organisa- tion of the force are not without interest at the present day, in so many particulars do they foreshadow those of the noble army of Volunteers, whose efficiency if ever hostile invasion should render their services necessary, would prove one great defence of the kingdom, as the feeling of loyalty to which the force not only owes its origin, but which still more admirably, brings it around its standards in yearly increasing numbers, is an honour to the whole nation."
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