They had been the labour of the worthy man's whole life; and never were labour and zeal more absurdly wasted.He had at one time gone to London, with the intention of giving them to the world, by the medium of a bookseller in Little Britain, well known to deal in such commodities, and to whom he was instructed to address himself in a particular phrase, and with a certain sign, which, it seems, passed at that time current among the initiated Jacobites.The moment Mr.Pembroke had uttered the shibboleth, with the appropriate gesture, the bibliopolist greeted him, notwithstanding every disclamation, by the title of Doctor, and conveying him into his back shop, after inspecting every possible and impossible place of concealment, he commenced:
``Eh, doctor! Well---all under the rose---snug---Ikeep no holes here even for a Hanoverian rat to hide in.And, what---eh! any good news from our friends over the water?---and how does the worthy king of France? Or perhaps you are more lately from Rome?---it must be Rome will do it at last---the church must light its candle at the old lamp.Eh! what, cautious? I like you the better; but no fear.''
Here Mr.Pembroke, with some difficulty, stopped a torrent of interrogations, eked out with signs, nods, and winks; and, having at length convinced the bookseller that he did him too much honour in supposing him an emissary of exiled royalty, he explained his actual business.
The man of books, with a much more composed air, proceeded to examine the manuscripts.The title of the first was, ``ADissent from Dissenters, or the Comprehension confuted; shewing the Impossibility, of any Composition between the Church and Puritans, Presbyterians, or Sectaries of any description; illustrated from the Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, and the soundest Controversial, Divines.'' To this work the bookseller positively demurred, ``Well meant,'' he said, ``and learned, doubtless; but the time had gone by.Printed on small pica it would run to eight hundred pages, and could never pay.
Begged therefore to be excused.Loved and honoured the true church from his soul; and, had it been a sermon on the martyrdom, or any twelve-penny touch---why I would venture something for the honour of the cloth.But come, let's see the other.`Right Hereditary righted!' ah, there's some sense in this! Hum---hum---hum---pages so many, paper so much, letter-press---Ah! I'll tell you, though, doctor, you must knock out some of the Latin and Greek; heavy, doctor, damn'd heavy---(beg your pardon) and if you throw in a few grains more pepper---I am he that never peached my author---I have published for Drake, and Charlwood Lawton, and poor Amhurst.<*>
* Note B.<! p54> Nicholas Amhurst.
Ah, Caleb! Caleb! Well, it was a shame to let poor Caleb starve, and so many fat rectors and squires among us.Igave him a dinner once a-week; but, Lord love you, what's once a-week, when a man does not know where to go the other six days?---Well, but I must shew the manuscript to little Tom Alibi, the solicitor, who manages all my law affairs---must keep on the windy side---the mob were very uncivil the last time Imounted in Old Palace Yard---all Whigs and Roundheads every man of them, Williamites and Hanover rats.''
The next day Mr.Pembroke again called on the publisher, but found Tom Alibi's advice had determined him against undertaking the work.``Not but what I would go to---(what was I going to say?) to the Plantations for the church with pleasure---but, dear doctor, I have a wife and family; but, to show my zeal, I'll recommend the job to my neighbour Trimmel---he is a bachelor, and leaving off business, so a voyage in a western barge would not inconvenience him.'' But Mr.
Trimmel was also obdurate, and Mr.Pembroke, fortunately perchance for himself, was compelled to return to Waverley Honour with his treatise in vindication of the real fundamental principles of church and state safely packed in his saddle-bags.
As the public were thus likely to be deprived of the benefit arising from his lucubrations by the selfish cowardice of the trade, Mr.Pembroke resolved to make two copies of these tremendous manuscripts for the use of his pupil.He felt that he had been indolent as a tutor, and, besides, his conscience checked him for complying with the request of Mr.Richard Waverley, that he would impress no sentiments upon Edward's mind inconsistent with the present settlement in church and state.But now, thought he, I may, without breach of my word, since he is no longer under my tuition, afford the youth the means of judging for himself, and have only to dread his reproaches for so long concealing the light which the perusal will flash upon his mind.While he thus indulged the reveries of an author and a politician, his darling proselyte, seeing nothing very inviting in the title of the tracts, and appalled by the bulk and compact lines of the manuscript, quietly consigned them to a corner of his travelling trunk.
Aunt Rachel's farewell was brief and affectionate.She only cautioned her dear Edward, whom she probably deemed somewhat susceptible, against the fascination of Scottish beauty.
She allowed that the northern part of the island contained some ancient families, but they were all Whigs and Presbyterians except the Highlanders; and respecting them she must needs say, there could be no great delicacy among the ladies, where the gentlemen's usual attire was, as she had been assured, to say the least, very singular, and not at all decorous.She concluded her farewell with a kind and moving benediction, and gave the young officer, as a pledge of her regard, a valuable diamond ring (often worn by the male sex at that time), and a purse of broad gold pieces, which also were more common Sixty Years since than they have been of late.