Kentucky Gazette

LITERARY DISCOVERY.

To the genius and pen of Walter Scott the literary world has heretofore considered itself indebted for Waverley, the Antiquary, Ivanhoe, and those novels which have followed, and still continue to follow, each other in rapid succession. But this idea seems to be all a mistake, according to the information and opinion of Mr. Noah, the very able and distinguished editor of the New-York National Advocate. It appears that the real author of these novels is Doctor Greenfield, formerly a leading professor in the University of Edinburgh, and first minister of the high church in that city. He is represented to be a man of consummate abilities, though an aristocrat, and he did suffer himself to be employed as an instrument, by Pitt and Dundas, to obstruct the progress of liberty in Great Britain. We will now proceed to copy some of Mr. Noah's remarks concerning this supposed author:

Such was his influence, that he was looked up to by the party as the pivot upon which all Scottish politics turned. While thus filling a most important station, he committed a crime by which his life was forfeited; but, the council fearing the effect which his execution would have upon the political objects then agitating, like bad guardians of law and of public morals, advised him to make his escape, which he did. These are facts which the people of Edinburgh generally know.

The family of Dr. Greenfield, consisting of a wife, two sons, and a daughter, adopted Mrs. Greenfield's maiden name, and came to reside in some part of England. The eldest son had been an officer in the army, was killed in a duel; and the particulars of which with some variations are to be found in the Antiquary.

About ten years ago, Dr. Greenfield was living in a retired manner at a place called Somers Town, near London, and he now resides near the metropolis. But, the strongest proof we have of his connection with these novels is, (our informant assures us) his seeing the manuscript of the Antiquary in the hand writing of Dr. Greenfield in possession of Ogle, the bookseller, who stated, that he had been offered its publication from Greenfield himself, who acknowledged to him that he was the author, and intended to pursue the subject through a series of novels. The bookseller, knowing Dr. Greenfield (though under an assumed name) and fearing the consequences of having any intercourse with him, declined the publication. Our informant, who is a man of extensive acquaintance, was familiarly known to Dr. Greenfield and his family, and well acquainted with his history, his capacity and his labours and pledges himself that Greenfield is the author of Waverley, Ivanhoe, and the rest of those novels so much admired and generally read.

The only person in England on whom the authorship has been fixed is Walter Scott—he denies it—why should he deny that he was the author of those admired performances if he really was so? But it has entirely escaped public recollection, that the talent of Walter Scott is of a very different order. He has indeed a very pretty and admired turn for poetry, and has acquired fame and money by his works; but he does not possess that fertility of invention, that vigorous talent which to truth, gives the appearance of fiction, and of fiction to truth, so happily displayed in all the Doctor's novels. He wants also that fertility of mind and copious industry requisite for giving them with such rapidity to the world. Greenfield is represented to us as a Hercules in literature. We have only to read "Paul's letters to his kinsfolk" which are known to be Scott's, to be convinced that he never could produce such works. Scott however may be acquainted with the author and unite in the propriety of concealing his name from the world, and at the same time negotiating for their publication, and this policy has had the effect of diverting the public attention from the real author. We expect to hear more on this subject.