uage too ancient, and
displaying his antiquarian knowledge too liberally, the ingenious author
had raised up an obstacle to his own success. Every work designed for
mere amusement must be expressed in language easily comprehended; and
when, as is sometimes the case in QUEENHOO HALL, the author addresses
himself exclusively to the antiquary, he must be content to be dismissed
by the general reader with the criticism of Mungo, in the PADLOCK, on the
Mauritanian music, 'What signifies me hear, if me no understand?'

I conceived it possible to avoid this error; and, by rendering a similar
work more light and obvious to general comprehension, to escape the rock
on which my predecessor was shipwrecked.

But I was, on the other hand, so far discouraged by the indifferent
reception of Mr. Strutt's romance as to become satisfied that the manners
of the middle ages did not possess the interest which I had conceived;
and was led to form the opinion that a romance founded on a Highland
story and more modern events would have a better chance of popularity
than a tale of chivalry.

My thoughts, therefore, returned more than once to the tale which I had
actually commenced, and accident at length threw the lost sheets in my
way.

I happened to want some fishing-tackle for the use of a guest, when it
occurred to me to search the old writing-desk already mentioned, in which
I used to keep articles of that nature.

I got access to it with some difficulty; and, in looking for lines and
flies, the long-lost manuscript presented itself.

I immediately set to work to complete it according to my original
purpose.

And here I must frankly confess that the mode in which I conducted the
story scarcely deserved the success which the romance afterwards
attained.

The tale of WAVERLEY was put together with so little care that I cannot
boast of having sketched any distinct plan of the work. The whole
adventures of Waverley, in his movements up and down the country with the
Highland cateran Bean Lean, are managed without much skill. It suited
best, however, the road I wanted to travel, and permitted me to introduce
some descriptions of scenery and manners, to which the reality gave an
interest which the powers of the Author might have otherwise failed to
attain for them. And though I have been in other instances a sinner in
this sort, I do not recollect any of these novels in which I have
transgressed so widely as in the first of the series.