ofthesamekind，theauthorcouldnotcomplain，thoughhisincognitowasendangered。Hehadchallengedthepublictoagameatbo-peep，andifhewasdiscoveredinhishiding-hole，’’hemustsubmittotheshameofdetection。
　　Variousreportswere，ofcoursecirculatedinvariousways；somefoundedonanaccuraterehearsalofwhatmayhavebeenpartlyreal，someoncircumstanceshavingnoconcernwhateverwiththesubject，andothersontheinventionofsomeimportunatepersons，whomightperhapsimagine，thatthereadiestmodeofforcingtheauthortodisclosehimself，wastoassignsomedishonourableanddiscreditablecauseforhissilence。
　　Itmaybeeasilysupposedthatthissortofinquisitionwastreatedwithcontemptbythepersonwhomitprincipallyregarded；asamongalltherumoursthatwerecurrent，therewasonlyone，andthatasunfoundedastheothers，whichhadneverthelesssomealliancetoprobability，andindeedmighthaveprovedinsomedegreetrue。
　　Ialludetoareportwhichascribedagreatpart，orthewhole，oftheseNovelstothelateThomasScott，Esq。，ofthe70thRegiment，thenstationedinCanada。Thosewhorememberthatgentlemanwillreadilygrant，that，withgeneraltalentsatleastequaltothoseofhiselderbrother，headdedapowerofsocialhumour，andadeepinsightintohumancharacter，whichrenderedhimanuniversallydelightfulmemberofsociety，andthatthehabitofcompositionalonewaswantingtorenderhimequallysuccessfulasawriter。TheAuthorofWaverleywassopersuadedofthetruthofthis，thathewarmlypressedhisbrothertomakesuchanexperiment，andwillinglyundertookallthetroubleofcorrectingandsuperintendingthepress。Mr。
　　ThomasScottseemedatfirstverywelldisposedtoembracetheproposal，andhadevenfixedonasubjectandahero。Thelatterwasapersonwellknowntobothofusinourboyishyears，fromhavingdisplayedsomestrongtraitsofcharacter。Mr。T。ScotthaddeterminedtorepresenthisyouthfulacquaintanceasemigratingtoAmerica，andencounteringthedangersandhardshipsoftheNewWorld，withthesamedauntlessspiritwhichhehaddisplayedwhenaboyinhisnativecountry。Mr。Scottwouldprobablyhavebeenhighlysuccessful，beingfamiliarlyacquaintedwiththemannersofthenativeIndians，oftheoldFrenchsettlersinCanada，andoftheBrulsorWoodsmen，andhavingthepowerofobservingwithaccuracywhat，Ihavenodoubt，hecouldhavesketchedwithforceandexpression。Inshort，theAuthorbelieveshisbrotherwouldhavemadehimselfdistinguishedinthatstrikingfield，inwhich，sincethatperiod，Mr。Cooperhasachievedsomanytriumphs。ButMr。T。
　　Scottwasalreadyaffectedbybadhealth，whichwhollyunfittedhimforliterarylabour，evenifhecouldhavereconciledhispatiencetothetask。Henever，Ibelieve，wroteasinglelineoftheprojectedwork；andIonlyhavethemelancholypleasureofpreservingintheAppendix，thesimpleanecdoteonwhichheproposedtofoundit。
　　SeeAppendix，No。III。p。。
　　TothisImayadd，Icaneasilyconceivethattheremayhavebeencircumstanceswhichgaveacolourtothegeneralreportofmybrotherbeinginterestedintheseworks；andinparticularthatitmightderivestrengthfrommyhavingoccasiontoremittohim，inconsequenceofcertainfamilytransactions，someconsiderablesumsofmoneyaboutthatperiod。Towhichitistobeadded，thatifanypersonchancedtoevinceparticularcuriosityonsuchasubject，mybrotherwaslikelyenoughtodiverthimselfwithpractisingontheircredulity。
　　Itmaybementioned，thatwhilethepaternityoftheseNovelswasfromtimetotimewarmlydisputedinBritain，theforeignbooksellersexpressednohesitationonthematter，butaffixedmynametothewholeoftheNovels，andtosomebesidestowhichIhadnoclaim。
　　Thevolumes，therefore，towhichthepresentpagesformaPreface，areentirelythecompositionoftheAuthorbywhomtheyarenowacknowledged，withtheexception，always，ofavowedquotations，andsuchunpremeditatedandinvoluntaryplagiarismsascanscarcebeguardedagainstbyanyonewhohasreadandwrittenagreatdeal。
　　Theoriginalmanuscriptsareallinexistence，andentirelywritten_horrescoreferens_intheAuthor’sownhand，exceptingduringtheyears1818and1819，when，beingaffectedwithsevereillness，hewasobligedtoemploytheassistanceofafriendlyamanuensis。
　　Thenumberofpersonstowhomthesecretwasnecessarilyentrusted，orcommunicatedbychance，amountedIshouldthinktotwentyatleast，towhomIamgreatlyobligedforthefidelitywithwhichtheyobservedthattrust，untilthederangementoftheaffairsofmypublishers，Messr。ConstableandCo。，andtheexposureoftheiraccompt-books，whichwasthenecessaryconsequence，renderedsecrecynolongerpossible。Theparticulars’attendingtheavowalhavebeenlaidbeforethepublicintheIntroductiontotheChroniclesoftheCanongate。
　　Thepreliminaryadvertisementhasgivenasketchofthepurposeofthisedition。Ihavesomereasontofearthatthenoteswhichaccompanythetales，asnowpublished，maybethoughttoomiscellaneousandtooegotistical。Itmaybesomeapologyforthis，thatthepublicationwasintendedtobeposthumous，andstillmore，thatoldmenmaybepermittedtospeaklong，becausetheycannotinthecourseofnaturehavelongtimetospeak。Inpreparingthepresentedition，IhavedoneallthatIcandotoexplainthenatureofmymaterials，andtheuseIhavemadeofthem；norisitprobablethatIshallagainreviseorevenreadthesetales。Iwasthereforedesirousrathertoexceedintheportionofnewandexplanatorymatterwhichisaddedtothisedition，thanthatthereadershouldhavereasontocomplainthattheinformationcommunicatedwasofageneralandmerelynominalcharacter。Itremainstobetriedwhetherthepubliclikeachildtowhomawatchisshownwill，afterhavingbeensatiatedwithlookingattheoutside，acquiresomenewinterestintheobjectwhenitisopened，andtheinternalmachinerydisplayedtothem。
　　ThatWaverleyanditssuccessorshavehadtheirdayoffavourandpopularitymustbeadmittedwithsinceregratitude；andtheAuthorhasstudiedwiththeprudenceofabeautywhosereignhasbeenratherlongtosupply，bytheassistanceofart，thecharmswhichnoveltynolongeraffords。ThepublishershaveendeavouredtogratifythehonourablepartialityofthepublicfortheencouragementofBritishart，byillustratingthisedition1829withdesignsbythemosteminentlivingartists。
　　Tomydistinguishedcountryman，DavidWilkie，toEdwinLandseer，whohasexercisedhistalentssomuchonScottishsubjectsandscenery，toMessrs。LeslieandNewton，mythanksaredue，fromafriendaswellasanauthor。NoramIlessobligedtoMessrs。Cooper，Kidd，andotherartistsofdistinctiontowhomIamlesspersonallyknown，forthereadyzealwithwhichtheyhavedevotedtheirtalentstothesamepurpose。
　　FurtherexplanationrespectingtheEditionisthebusinessofthepublishers，notoftheAuthor；andhere，therefore，thelatterhasaccomplishedhistaskofIntroductionandexplanation。If，likeaThepublicationofWaverley，seeNote，p。。
　　spoiledchild，hehassometimesabusedortrifledwiththeindulgenceofthepublic，hefeelshimselfentitledtofullbelief，whenheexculpateshimselffromthechargeofhavingbeenatanytimeinsensibleoftheirkindness。
　　Abbotsford，1stJanuary1829。
　　INTRODUCTION。
　　1829
　　TheplanofthisEditionleadsmetoinsertinthisplacesomeaccount[InthepresenteditiontheincidentsreferredtohavebeentransferredtotheAppendix，videpage。]
　　oftheincidentsonwhichtheNovelof=Waverley=isfounded。TheyhavebeenalreadygiventothepublicbymylatelamentedfriendWilliamErskine，Esq。afterwardsLordKinneder，whenreviewingtheTalesofMyLandlordfortheQuarterlyReview，in1817。TheparticularswerederivedbytheCriticfromtheAuthor’sinformation。
　　AfterwardstheywerepublishedinthePrefacetotheChroniclesoftheCanongate。Theyarenowinsertedintheirproperplace。
　　OtherillustrationsofWaverleywillbefoundintheNotesatthefootofthepagestowhichtheybelong。ThosewhichappearedtoolongtobesoplacedaregivenattheendoftheNovel。
　　Thetitleofthisworkhasnotbeenchosenwithoutthegraveandsoliddeliberationwhichmattersofimportancedemandfromtheprudent。Evenitsfirst，orgeneraldenomination，wastheresultofnocommonresearchorselection，although，accordingtotheexampleofmypredecessors，IhadonlytoseizeuponthemostsoundingandeuphonicsurnamethatEnglishhistoryortopographyaffords，andelectitatonceasthetitleofmywork，andthenameofmyhero。Butalas！whatcouldmyreadershaveexpectedfromthechivalrousepithetsofHoward，Mordaunt，Mortimer，orStanley，orfromthesofterandmoresentimentalsoundsofBelmour，Belville，Belfield，andBelgrave，butpagesofinanity，similartothosewhichhavebeensochristenedforhalfacenturypast？ImustmodestlyadmitIamtoodiffidentofmyownmerittoplaceitinunnecessaryoppositiontopreconceivedassociations；Ihave，therefore，likeamaidenknightwithhiswhiteshield，assumedformyhero，=Waverley，=anuncontaminatedname，bearingwithitssoundlittleofgoodorevil，exceptingwhatthereadershallhereafterbepleasedtoaffixtoit。Butmysecondorsupplementaltitlewasamatterofmuchmoredifficultelection，sincethat，shortasitis，maybeheldaspledgingtheauthortosomespecialmodeoflayinghisscene，drawinghischaracters，andmanaginghisadventures。
　　HadI，forexample，announcedinmyfrontispiece，Waverley，aTaleofotherDays，’’mustnoteverynovel-readerhaveanticipatedacastlescarcelessthanthatofUdolpho，ofwhichtheeasternwinghadlongbeenuninhabited，andthekeyseitherlost，orconsignedtothecareofsomeagedbutlerorhousekeeper，whosetremblingsteps，aboutthemiddleofthesecondvolume，weredoomedtoguidethehero，orheroine，totheruinousprecincts？Wouldnottheowlhaveshriekedandthecricketcriedinmyverytitle-page？andcouldithavebeenpossibleforme，withamoderateattentiontodecorum，tointroduceanyscenemorelivelythanmightbeproducedbythejocularityofaclownishbutfaithfulvalet，orthegarrulousnarrativeoftheheroine’sfille-de-chambre，whenrehearsingthestoriesofbloodandhorrorwhichshehadheardintheservants’hall？Again，hadmytitleborneWaverley，aRomancefromtheGerman，’’
　　whatheadsoobtuseasnottoimageforthaprofligateabbot，anoppressiveduke，asecretandmysteriousassociationofRosycruciansandIlluminati，withalltheirpropertiesofblackcowls，caverns，daggers，electricalmachines，trap-doors，anddark-lanterns？
　　OrifIhadratherchosentocallmyworkaSentimentalTale，’’woulditnothavebeenasufficientpresageofaheroinewithaprofusionofauburnhair，andaharp，thesoftsolaceofhersolitaryhours，whichshefortunatelyfindsalwaysthemeansoftransportingfromcastletocottage，althoughsheherselfbesometimesobligedtojumpoutofatwo-pair-of-stairswindow，andismorethanoncebewilderedonherjourney，aloneandonfoot，withoutanyguidebutablowzypeasantgirl，whosejargonshehardlycanunderstand？Oragain，ifmyWaverleyhadbeenentitledATaleoftheTimes，’’wouldstthounot，gentlereader，havedemandedfrommeadashingsketchofthefashionableworld，afewanecdotesofprivatescandalthinlyveiled，andiflusciouslypainted，somuchthebetter？aheroinefromGrosvenorSquare，andaherofromtheBaroucheClubortheFour-in-hand，withasetofsubordinatecharactersfromtheelegantesofQueenAnneStreetEast，orthedashingheroesoftheBowStreetOffice？Icouldproceedinprovingtheimportanceofatitle-page，anddisplayingatthesametimemyownintimateknowledgeoftheparticularingredientsnecessarytothecompositionofromancesandnovelsofvariousdescriptions：butitisenough，andIscorntotyrannizelongerovertheimpatienceofmyreader，whoisdoubtlessalreadyanxioustoknowthechoicemadebyanauthorsoprofoundlyversedinthedifferentbranchesofhisart。
　　Byfixing，then，thedateofmystorySixtyYearsbeforethepresent1stNovember1805，Iwouldhavemyreadersunderstand，thattheywillmeetinthefollowingpagesneitheraromanceofchivalry，norataleofmodernmanners；thatmyherowillneitherhaveirononhisshoulders，asofyore，norontheheelsofhisboots，asisthepresentfashionofBondStreet；
　　andthatmydamselswillneitherbeclothedinpurpleandinpall，’’liketheLadyAliceofanoldballad，norreducedtotheprimitivenakednessofamodernfashionableatarout。Fromthismychoiceofaneratheunderstandingcriticmayfartherpresage，thattheobjectofmytaleismoreadescriptionofmenthanmanners。Ataleofmanners，tobeinteresting，musteitherrefertoantiquitysogreatastohavebecomevenerable，oritmustbearavividreflectionofthosesceneswhicharepassingdailybeforeoureyes，andareinterestingfromtheirnovelty。Thusthecoat-of-mailofourancestors，andthetriple-furredpelisseofourmodernbeaux，may，thoughforverydifferentreasons，beequallyfitforthearrayofafictitiouscharacter；butwho，meaningthecostumeofhisherotobeimpressive，wouldwillinglyattirehiminthecourtdressofGeorgetheSecond’sreign，withitsnocollar，largesleeves，andlowpocket-holes？Thesamemaybeurged，withequaltruth，oftheGothichall，which，withitsdarkenedandtintedwindows，itselevatedandgloomyroof，andmassiveoakentablegarnishedwithboar’s-headandrosemary，pheasantsandpea-cocks，cranesandcygnets，hasanexcellenteffectinfictitiousdescription。Muchmayalsobegainedbyalivelydisplayofamodernfte，suchaswehavedailyrecordedinthatpartofanewspaperentitledtheMirrorofFashion，ifwecontrastthese，oreitherofthem，withthesplendidformalityofanentertainmentgivenSixtyYearssince；andthusitwillbereadilyseenhowmuchthepainterofantiqueoroffashionablemannersgainsoverhimwhodelineatesthoseofthelastgeneration。
　　Consideringthedisadvantagesinseparablefromthispartofmysubject，Imustbeunderstoodtohaveresolvedtoavoidthemasmuchaspossible，bythrowingtheforceofmynarrativeuponthecharactersandpassionsoftheactors；-thosepassionscommontomeninallstagesofsociety，andwhichhavealikeagitatedthehumanheart，whetheritthrobbedunderthesteelcorsletofthefifteenthcentury，thebrocadedcoatoftheeighteenth，orthebluefrockandwhitedimitywaistcoatofthepresentday。UponthesepassionsitisnodoubttruethatAlas！thatattire，respectableandgentlemanlikein1805，orthereabouts，isnowasantiquatedastheAuthorofWaverleyhashimselfbecomesincethatperiod！Thereaderoffashionwillpleasetofillupthecostumewithanembroideredwaistcoatofpurplevelvetorsilk，andacoatofwhatevercolourhepleases。