The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

8 WAVERLLEY NOVELS.
divines, the most distinguished of their time, have not scorned to square
accounts with their bookseller.
Captain. (Sings.)
"Oh, if it were a mean thing,
The gentles would not use it;
And if it were ungodly,
The clergy would refuse it."
Aucthor. You say well. But no man of honour, genius, or spirit, would
make the mere love of gain, the chief, faxr less the only, purpose of his
labours. For myself, I am not displeased to find the game a winning one;
yet while I pleased the public, I should probably continue it merely for the
pleasure of playing; for I have felt as strongly as most folks that love of
composition, which is perhaps the strongest of all instincts, driving the
author to the pen, the painter to the pallet, often without either the chance
of fame or the prospect of reward. Perhaps I have said too much of this.
I might, perhaps, with as much truth as most people, exculpate myself
from the charge of being either of a greedy or mercenary disposition; but
I am not, therefore, hypocrite enough to disclaim the ordinary motives, on
account of which the whole world around me is toiling unremittingly, to
the sacrifice of ease, comfort, health, and life. I do not affect the disinterestedness of that ingenious association of gentlemen mentioned by Goldsmith, who sold their magazine for sixpence a-piece, merely for their own
amusement.
Captain. I have but one thing more to hint. - The world say you will
run yourself out.
Atthor. The'world say true: and what then? When they dance no
longer, I will no longer pipe; and I shall not want flappers enough to remind
me of the apoplexy.
Captain. And what will become of us then, your poor family?' We shall
fall into contempt and oblivion.
Author. Like many a poor fellow, already overwhelmed with the number
of his family, I cannot help going on to increase it- "'Tis my vocation,
IIHal." — Such of you as deserve oblivion-perhaps the whole of you-may
be consigned to it. At any rate, you have been read in your day, which is
more than can be said of some of your contemporaries, of less fortune and
more merit. They cannot say but that you had the crown. It is always
something to have engaged the public attention for seven years. Had I
only written Waverley, I should have long since been, according to the established phrase, "the ingenious author of a novel much admired at the
time." I believe, on my soul, that the reputation of Waverley is sustained
very much by the praises of those who may be inclined to prefer that tale
to its successors.
Captain. You are willing, then, to barter future reputation for present
popularity?
Author. MleZiora spero. Horace himself expected not to survive in all
his works-I may hope to live in some of mine;-non omnis moriar. It is
some consolation to reflect, that the best authors in all countries have been
the most voluminous; and it has often happened, that those who have been
best received in their own time, have also continued to be acceptable to posterity. I do not think so ill of the present generation, as to suppose that its
present favour necessarily infers future condemnation.
Captain. Were all to act on such principles, the public would be inundated.
Author. Once more, my dear son, beware of cant. You speak as if the
public were obliged to read books merely because they are printed — your
friends the booksellers would thank you to make the proposition good. The
most serious grievances attending such inundations as you talk of, is, that
they make rags dear. The multiplicity of publications does the present age
no harm, and may greatly advantage that which is to succeed us.