The First Poetess of Romantic Fiction

Ann Ward was born in London on July 9, 1764, about 7 years before Walter Scott.  Like Scott, her first novel - The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne (1789) - was published anonymously.  This novel was published in the year following her marriage to journalist William Radcliffe.

The title of today’s post is a comment on Ann Radcliffe made by Walter Scott.  Radcliffe was influential in her time, and according to Scott’s journal entry of February 3^rd, 1826, the author consciously dealt with that influence:

‘…James Ballantyne is severely critical on what he calls imitations of Mrs.

Radcliffe in Woodstock. Many will think with him, yet I am of opinion

he is quite wrong, or, as friend J. F[errier] says, vrong. In the

first place, I am to look on the mere fact of another author having

treated a subject happily as a bird looks on a potato-bogle which scares

it away from a field otherwise as free to its depredations as any one's

else! In 2d place, I have taken a wide difference: my object is not to

excite fear of supernatural tilings in my reader, but to show the effect

of such fear upon the agents in the story--one a man of sense and

firmness--one a man unhinged by remorse--one a stupid uninquiring

clown--one a learned and worthy, but superstitious divine. In the third

place, the book turns on this hinge, and cannot want it. But I will try

to insinuate the refutation of Aldiboronti's exception into the

prefatory matter…’

William IV's Funeral

‘Yesterday I went to the late King [William IV]’s funeral, who was buried with just the same ceremonial as his predecessor this time seven years.  It is a wretched mockery after all, and if I was king, the first thing I would do should be to provide for being committed to the earth with more decency and less pomp.  A host of persons of all ranks and stations were congregated, who ‘loitered through the lofty halls’, chattering and laughing, and with nothing of woe about them but the garb…’

A king who gave £300 for the Scott Monument might have deserved better treatment than Charles Greville witnessed at William’s state funeral.  Greville, like Scott a diarist, though with a more extensive timeframe and scope, recorded this observation on July 9, 1837.  

Robert Shortreed

Derived of the Shortreeds of Jedburgh, Robert Shortreed was sheriff-substitute for Roxburghshire.  Shortreed and Scott became acquainted by 1792, when the two began ballad hunting together with a summer trip to Liddesdale.  These summer 'raids' continued for seven additional years, as Scott was collecting material for his "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border".
From Scott's Journal of July 9, 1829:

I began an immense arrangement of my papers, but was obliged to desist by the approach of four o'clock. Having been enabled to shirk the Court, I had the whole day to do what I wished, and as I made some progress I hope I will be strengthened to resume the task when at Abbotsford.


Heard of the death of poor Bob Shortreed, the companion of many a long ride among the hills in quest of old ballads. He was a merry companion, a good singer and mimic, and full of Scottish drollery. In his company, and under his guidance, I was able to see much of rural society in the mountains which I could not otherwise have attained, and which I have made my use of. He was, in addition, a man of worth and character. I always burdened his hospitality while at Jedburgh on the Circuit, and have been useful to some of his family. Poor fellow! He died at a most interesting period for his family, when his eldest daughter was about to make an advantageous marriage. So glide our friends from us—Haec poena diu viventibus. Many recollections die with him and with poor Terry.[355] I dined with the Skenes in a family way.