indness to
give some interesting additions to Scott's own account of this novel
as a composition. The generous Supervisor visited him in Edinburgh in
May, 1816, a few days after the publication of The Antiquary, carrying
with him several relics which he wished to present to his collection;
among others a purse that had belonged {p.133} to Rob Roy, and also a
fresh heap of traditionary gleanings, which he had gathered among the
tale-tellers of his district. One of these last was in the shape of a
letter to Mr. Train from a Mr. Broadfoot, "schoolmaster at the clachan
of Penningham, and author of the _celebrated song_ of the Hills of
Galloway"--with which I confess myself unacquainted. Broadfoot had
facetiously signed his communication _Clashbottom_,--"a professional
appellation derived," says Mr. Train, "from the use of the birch, and
by which he was usually addressed among his companions,--who
assembled, not at the Wallace Inn of Gandercleuch, but at the sign of
the Shoulder of Mutton in Newton-Stewart." Scott received these gifts
with benignity, and invited the friendly donor to breakfast next
morning. He found him at work in his library, and surveyed with
enthusiastic curiosity the furniture of the room, especially its only
picture, a portrait of Graham of Claverhouse. Train expressed the
surprise with which every one, who had known Dundee only in the pages
of the Presbyterian Annalists, must see for the first time that
beautiful and melancholy visage, worthy of the most pathetic dreams of
romance. Scott replied, "that no character had been so foully traduced
as the Viscount of Dundee; that, thanks to Wodrow, Cruickshanks, and
such chroniclers, he, who was every inch a soldier and a gentleman,
still passed among the Scottish vulgar for a ruffian desperado, who
rode a goblin horse, was proof against shot, and in league with the
Devil." "Might he not," said Mr. Train, "be made, in good hands, the
hero of a national romance as interesting as any about either Wallace
or Prince Charlie?" "He might," said Scott, "but your western zealots
would require to be faithfully portrayed in order to bring him out
with the right effect."[54] "And what," resumed {p.134} Train, "if
the story were to be delivered as if from the mouth of _Old
Mortality_? Would _he_ not do as well as _the Minstrel_ did in the
Lay?" "Old Mortality!" said Scott--"who was he?" Mr. Train then told
what he could remember of old Paterson, and seeing how much his s