Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Walter Scott to Daniel Terry, 8 February 1818
“8th February, 1818.
“Yours arrived, unluckily, just half an hour after my
packet was in the Post-office, so this will cost you 9d., for which I grieve.
To answer your principal question first, the drama is
‘Yours, Terry, yours
in every thought.’ |
“I should never have dreamed of making such an
attempt in my own proper person; and if I had such a
| LETTERS TO LAIDLAW, TERRY, &c. | 125 |
vision, I should have been anxious
to have made it something of a legitimate drama, such as a literary man,
uncalled upon by any circumstance to connect himself with the stage, might have
been expected to produce. Now this is just what any gentleman in your situation
might run off, to give a little novelty to the entertainment of the year, and
as such will meet a mitigated degree of criticism, and have a better chance of
that productive success, which is my principal object in
my godson’s behalf. If any time
should come when you might wish to disclose the secret, it will be in your
power, and our correspondence will always serve to show that it was only at my
earnest request, annexed as the condition of bringing the play forward, that
you gave it your name—a circumstance which, with all the attending particulars,
will prove plainly that there was no assumption on your part.
“A beautiful drama might be made on the concealment
of the Scotch regalia during the troubles. But it would interfere with the
democratic spirit of the times, and would probably
——‘By party rage, Or right or wrong, be hooted from the stage.’ |
“I will never forgive you if you let any false idea
of my authorial feelings prevent your acting in this affair as if you were the
real parent, not the godfather of the piece. Our facetious friend J. B. knows nought of such a matter being
en train, and never will
know. I am delighted to hear my windows are finished. Yours very truly,
John Ballantyne (1774-1821)
Edinburgh publisher and literary agent for Walter Scott; he was the younger brother of
the printer James Ballantyne.
Daniel Terry (1789-1829)
English actor; after a career in provincial theater made his London debut in 1812. A
close friend of Walter Scott, he performed in theatrical adaptations of Scott's
novels.
Walter Scott Terry (1816-1842)
The son of the actor Daniel Terry; he was a lieutenant in the Bombay Artillery, mortally
wounded fighting at the Khyber Pass. Walter Scott was his godfather.