in nine volumes in June 1827. Lockhart calculates that it contains as much as five of the ‘Waverley Novels,’ and that the actual writing, after making allowance for absences and other works, had occupied twelve months. Though Scott had collected many books and consulted such authorities as he could, a work done at such speed, with powers already overstrained and amid pressing anxieties, could not have serious historical value. It was, however, sold for 18,000l., and warmly received at the time. Goethe, who had just addressed a complimentary letter to Scott (dated 12 Jan. 1827) acknowledging his lively interest in his ‘wonderful pictures of human life,’ speaks favourably (‘Kunst und Alterthum’) of the ‘Napoleon.’ The book also led to a controversy with General Gourgaud, about whom Scott had published certain documents. There was some talk of a duel, which ‘pleasurably stimulated’ Scott's feelings; but the affair blew over without a challenge.
Scott, having finished ‘Napoleon,’ began, without a day's intermission (Journal, 10 June 1827), a history of Scotland for children. The Lockharts were near him in the summer, and Scott told the story to the child before putting it on paper. The first series of the ‘Chronicles of Canongate’ appeared in the early winter. He was discouraged by the reception of the novel, and only at Cadell's entreaty consented to make another start in fiction. The history published as ‘Tales of a Grandfather’ appeared in December, and was more ‘rapturously’ received than any of his books since ‘Ivanhoe.’ A second and third series appeared in 1828 and 1829. Questions as to the copyrights of ‘Woodstock’ and ‘Napoleon’ had now been settled in Scott's favour. Affairs being simplified, Constable's creditors sold the copyrights of the ‘Waverley Novels’ and most of the poems. They were put up to auction and bought, half for Scott's trustees and half for Cadell, for 8,500l. The purchase enabled Scott to carry out a plan which appears to have been suggested by Constable in 1823 (Constable, iii. 255). This was an edition of the works with autobiographical prefaces, which was carried out with singular success, and chiefly contributed to the reduction of the debt. Scott refers to it as the magnum opus. A dividend of six shillings in the pound was paid at Christmas 1827, near 40,000l. having been raised in the two years by Scott's exertions.
His labours continued monotonously through the next two years. The ‘Fair Maid of Perth,’ the last novel which shows unmistakable marks of the old vigour, appeared in the spring of 1828, and the character of the chief whose cowardice is made pardonable reflected his sorrow for his harsh judgment upon his brother Daniel. In the summer he was much troubled by the bankruptcy of his friend Terry, whom he endeavoured to help. ‘Anne of Geierstein,’ the next novel, was warmly praised by his friends at Christmas, to his great encouragement. It was disliked by Ballantyne, but, though the printer's judgment anticipated that of later readers, succeeded fairly on its publication in May 1829. His spirits were raised by the success of the magnum opus, which was now coming out in monthly volumes, and by the end of the year reached a sale of thirty-five thousand. He was greatly shocked by the death of his favourite, Tom Purdie, on 29 Oct. (see Lang's Lockhart, ii. 56).
In the winter Scott wrote the ‘Ayrshire Tragedy,’ the least unsuccessful of his dramatic attempts. Soon afterwards, however, on 15 Feb. 1830, a paralytic or apoplectic attack showed that his toils were at last telling. He submitted to a severe regimen, and an apparent improvement encouraged him to struggle on. His family could see a painful change. Writing was obviously injurious, and Cadell hoped that the success of the magnum opus would induce him to confine himself to writing the prefaces. Cadell tried also to divert his attention to a catalogue of the Abbotsford Museum. Scott was taken by the scheme, but after beginning it insisted upon starting a new story. He could still speak effectively at an election dinner, and he made a successful appeal through the papers to the people of Edinburgh to receive Charles X on his exile with dignified decorum. He retired at the end of the summer season from his clerkship on an allowance of 800l. a year. He declined an offer from the ministry to make up the deficiency of his income by a pension, after consulting his creditors, who generously agreed that he should obey his sense of delicacy. He also declined the rank of privy councillor, as unsuitable to his position. He passed the winter at Abbotsford, toiling at his new story, ‘Count Robert of Paris.’ Cadell and Ballantyne became alarmed at its obvious indication of declining powers, and Ballantyne at last wrote a frank opinion of its future. Another seizure had shaken him in November. He summoned his advisers to consider the novel. On 17 Dec. 1830 a meeting of Scott's creditors took place, when a further dividend of three shillings in the pound was paid.
