New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

THE GREAT UNKNOWN SELF ACKNOWLEDGED.

The mystery which has so long existed with regard to the author of those extraordinary productions, the "Waverly Novels" is now finally dispelled, and the general opinion confirmed by the unequivocal declaration of the "Great Unknown" himself, which was made at the Theatrical Dinner at Edinburgh, on Friday last. We extract from the report given in the Edinburgh Courant, the speech of Sir Walter Scott:

Lord Meadowbank, as a testimony of the feelings with which he rose, begged to propose a health, which he was sure in an assembly of Scotsmen, would be received not with an ordinary feeling of delight, but with rapture and enthusiasm. He would give the health of Sir Walter Scott, which was drunk with enthusiastic cheering.

"Sir Walter Scott certainly did not think that, in coming here today, he would have the task of acknowledging, before three hundred gentlemen, a secret which considering that it was communicated to more than twenty persons, was remarkably well kept. He was now before the bar of his country, and might be understood to be on trial before Lord Meadowbank as an offender; yet he was sure that every impartial jury would bring in a verdict of Not Proven. He did not now think it necessary to enter into the reasons of his long silence. Perhaps he might have acted from caprice: he had now to say however, that the merits of these works, if they had any, and their faults were entirely imputable to himself.- (Loud and loud cheers.) He was afraid to think on what he had done. "Look on't again I dare not." He had thus far unbosomed himself, and he knew it would be reported to the public. He meant when he said he was the author, that he was the total and undivided author. With the exception of quotations, there was not a single word that was not derived from himself, or suggested in the course of his reading. The wand was now broken and the rod buried. They will allow him further to say, with Prospero, "your breath has filled my sails," and to crave one single toast in the capacity of the author of these novels; and he would dedicate a bumper to the health of one of those characters, of which he had endeavoured to give the skeleton, with a degree of liveliness which rendered him grateful. He would propose the health of his friend Bailie Nicol Jarvie-(Loud applause) and he was sure, that when the author of Waverly & Rob Roy drinks to Nicol Jarvie, it would be received with that degree of applause to which that gentleman has been accustomed, and that they would take care that on the present occasion it should be prodigious! (Long & vehement applause.)

Mr Mackay (who here spoke with great good humor in the character of Bailie Jarvie)-My conscience! My worthy father the Deacon could not believe that his son could hae had sic a compliment paid to him by the Great Unknown.

Sir W. Scott-Not unknown now. Mr Bailie.

Mr Mackay said he had been long identified with the Bailie; and he was vain of the cognomen which he had worn for eight years, and he questioned if any of his brethren in the Council had given such universal satisfaction. (Loud laughter and applause.)