Rob Roy

ROB ROY br SIR WALTER SCOTT - Sir Walfer Scott was born at Edinburgh on 15th August 1771, educated at Edinburgh H h School and University, knighted in 1820, and died at Abbotsford on 21st Sep tember 1832. His chief novels are Waverby I 814. Guy Mannering 1815 The Antiquary 1816, Old Mortality I 81 6, Rob Roy I 81 7, The Heart of Mik bthian 1818, The Bride o j Lummermoor 1819, The Legend ofMontrose 1819 I v anhoe 1819, The Monastery 1820. The Abbot 1820, Kenilworth 1821, The Pirate f1821, The Fortunes ofNigel I 822, Quentin Durward 1823, St. Ronans Well 1823. Redgauntlet 1824, The Betrothed 1825, The Talisman i825, Woodstock 1826, Chronicles ofthe Canongate I 827, and The Fair Maid of Perth I 828 all of which are included in the Nelson Classics, together with his Journal two volumes. A number appear also in the Winchester Classics. A D V E R T I S E M E N T TO THE FIRST EDITION WHEN th e Editor of the following volumes published, about two years since, the work called The Antiquary, he announced that he was, for the last time, intruding upon the public in his present capacity. He might shelter himself under the plea that every anonymous writer is, like the celebrated Junius, only a hantom, and that therefore, although an apparition o a more benign, as well as much meaner description, he cannot be bound to plead to a charge of inconsistency. A better apology may be found in the imitating the confession of honest Benedict, that, when he said he would die a bachelor, he did not think he should live to be married. The best of all would be, if, as has eminently happened in the case of some distinguished contemporaries, the merit of the work should, in the readers estimation, form an excusefor the authors breach of promise. Without presuming to hope that this may prove the case, it is . - only further necessary to mention, that my resolution, like that of Benedict, fell a sacrifice, to temptation at least, if not to stratagem. It is now about six months since the Author, through the medium of his respectable Publishers, received a parcel of Papers, containing the Outlines of this narrative with a permission, or rather with a request, couched in highly flattering terms, that they might be given to the Public, with such alterations as should be found suitable. These were of course so numerous, that, besides As it may be necessary, in the present Edition, to speak upon the square, the Author thinks it proper to own, that the communication alluded to is entirely imaginary the suppression of names, and of incidents approaching too much to reality, the work may in a great measure be said to be new written. Several anachronisms have probably crept in during the course of these changes and the mottoes for the Chapters have been selected without any reference to the supposed date of the incidents. For these, of course, the Editor is responsible. Some others occurred in the original materials, but they are of little consequence. In point of minute accuracy, it may be stated, that the bridge over the Forth, or rather the Avondhu or Black River, near the hamlet of Aberfoil, had not an existence thirty years ago. It does not, however, become the Editor to be the first to point out these errors and he takes this public opportunity to thank the unknown and nameless correspondent, to whom the reader will owe the share of any amusement which he may derive rom the following pages. P-cipd1st December, 1817 - INTRODUCTION - WHEN the author projected this further encroachment on the patience of an indulgent public, he was at some loss for a title a good name being very nearly of as much consequence in literature as in life. The title of ROB ROY was suggested by the late Mr...