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[Transcriber's Note:

I feel that it is important to note that this book is part of the
Caledonian series. The Caledonian series is a group of 50 books
comprising all of Sir Walter Scott's works.]







WAVERLEY

OR 'T IS SIXTY YEARS SINCE

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT

VOLUME I





PUBLISHERS' NOTE


It has long been the ambition of the present publishers to offer to the
public an ideal edition of the writings of Sir Walter Scott, the great
poet and novelist of whom William Hazlitt said, 'His works are almost
like a new edition of human nature.' Secure in the belief not only that
his writings have achieved a permanent place in the literature of the
world, but that succeeding generations will prize them still more
highly, we have, after the most careful planning and study, undertaken
the publication of this edition of the Waverley Novels and the complete
poetical writings.

It is evident that the ideal edition of a great classic must be
distinguished in typography, must present the best available text, and
must be illustrated in such a way as at once to be beautiful in itself
and to add to the reader's pleasure and his understanding of the book.
As to the typography and text, little need be said here. The format of
the edition has been most carefully studied, and represents the use of
the best resources of The Riverside Press. The text has been carefully
edited in the light of Scott's own revisions; all of his own latest
notes have been included, glossaries have been added, and full
descriptive notes to the illustrations have been prepared which will,
we hope, add greatly to the reader's interest and instruction in the
reading of the novels and poems.

Of the illustrations, which make the special feature of this edition,
something more may be said. In the case of an author like Sir Walter
Scott, the ideal edition requires that the beautiful and romantic
scenery amid which he lived and of which he wrote shall be adequately
presented to the reader. No other author ever used more charming
backgrounds or employed them to better advantage. To see Scotland, and
to visit in person all the scenes of the novels and poems, would enable
the reader fully to understand these backgrounds and thereby add
materially to his appreciation of the author.

Before beginning the preparation of this edition, the head of the
department having it in charge made a visit in person to the scenes of
the novels and poems, determined to explore all the localities referred
to by the author, so far as they could be identified. The field proved
even more productive than had been at first supposed, and photographs
were obtained in sufficient quantity to illustrate all the volumes.
These pictures represent the scenes very much as Scott saw them. The
natural scenery--mountains, woods, lakes, rivers, seashore, and the
like--is nearly the same as in his day. The ruins of ancient castles
and abbeys were found to correspond very closely with his descriptions,
though in many instances he had in imagination rebuilt these ruins and
filled them with the children of his fancy. The scenes of the stories
extend into nearly every county in Scotland and through a large part of
England and Wales. All of these were thoroughly investigated, and
photographs were made of everything of interest. One of the novels has
to do with France and Belgium, one with Switzerland, one with the Holy
Land, one with Constantinople, and one with India. For all of these
lands, which Scott did not visit in person, and therefore did not
describe with the same attention to detail as in the case of his own
country, interesting pictures of characteristic scenery were secured.
By this method the publishers have hoped to bring before the reader a
series of photographs which will not only please the eye and give a
satisfactory artistic effect to the volumes, but also increase the
reader's knowledge of the country described and add a new charm to the
delightful work of the author. In addition to the photographs, old
engravings and paintings have been reproduced for the illustration of
novels having to do with old buildings, streets, etc., which have long
since disappeared. For this material a careful search was made in the
British Museum, the Advocates' Library and City Museum, Edinburgh, the
Library at Abbotsford, the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, and other
collections.

It has been thought, too, that the ideal edition of Scott's works would
not be complete without an adequate portrayal of his more memorable
characters. This has been accomplished in a series of frontispieces
specially painted for this edition by twenty of the most distinguished
illustrators of England.

4 PARK STREET, BOSTON.





ADVERTISEMENT TO THE WAVERLEY NOVELS


IT has been the occasional occupation of the Author of Waverley, for
several years past, to revise and correct the voluminous series of
Novels which pass under that name, in order that, if they should ever
appear as his avowed productions, he might render them in some degree
deserving of a continuance of the public favour with which they have
been honoured ever since their first appearance. For a long period,
however