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Summary of the Speech:

Henson opened with humility, acknowledging the challenge of finding anything original to say about Walter Scott after generations of praise. Despite being English, he argued for his right to speak, noting Scott’s broad literary range that embraced English as well as Scottish themes.

He reflected on Scott’s legacy:

• Scott’s poetic reputation, particularly in England, predated his Scottish acclaim. English friends like Surtees and Raine helped unmask Scott as the author of the Waverley Novels.
• He praised Scott’s capacity for mystification in preserving his anonymity as “the Great Unknown,” even quoting Scott’s justification for his denials.
• Henson discussed Scott’s connection to Durham, his friendships with figures like Bishop Barrington and Surtees, and his affection for the cathedral city. He linked this to Scott’s poetic tribute in Harold the Dauntless and Marmion.
• He recalled a poignant episode in which Scott’s health was toasted by Bishop Van Mildert in the presence of the Duke of Wellington, which Scott remembered with great pride.



Henson explored Scott’s literary genius, contrasting him with Byron. Though Byron's fame once overshadowed Scott's, Henson believed Scott's poetry endured better, being rooted in timeless sentiments rather than transient moods.

Scott’s greatest literary achievement, however, was his invention of the historical romance, which Henson believed no one had surpassed. Scott’s deep imagination and his proximity to the Romantic Age gave authenticity to his characters and settings.

Henson praised Scott’s dialogue and characterisation, noting their realism and vitality, and remarked on Scott’s long period of preparation before he began writing in earnest, which led to his remarkable productivity and quality.

Noteworthy points and themes:

1. Scott as a Unifier:
   Henson credited Scott with softening Anglo-Scottish tensions, reconciling the Lowlander with the Highlander, and promoting national unity through literature. This, he argued, may be Scott’s “greatest achievement.”
2. Scott’s Indirect Role in the Oxford Movement:
   He argued that Scott’s medievalism and religious romanticism influenced the intellectual atmosphere that enabled the Oxford Movement and softened anti-Catholic prejudices in England.
3. Comparison to Shakespeare:
   Scott was compared to Shakespeare for his humaneness and deep understanding of common people. Henson admired how Scott's works reflect his personality, warmth, and understanding.
4. Scott’s Personal Trials:
   The most powerful section recounted Scott’s financial collapse in 1826. Rather than accept help, Scott insisted, “No! this right hand shall work it all off!” His humour and dignity in adversity are held up as the ultimate test and confirmation of his greatness.
5. Legacy of Humanity:
   Above all, Henson believed Scott's enduring power came from his sympathy with ordinary people, a quality that made his characters feel alive and his influence lasting.

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Subsidiary Toasts Summary

1. The Imperial Forces
Proposed by Mr John Hogben, who remarked that Sir Walter Scott was a soldier at heart and embodied the martial spirit.
Response by Captain W. Nunn, R.N.

Notably, Scott’s own passion for the military and his involvement in the Yeomanry were highlighted, linking his literary heroism with real-world values of service and courage.

2. Literature
Proposed by Sir Richard Lodge, who celebrated Scott’s role in uniting both Scotland internally (Highlanders and Lowlanders) and Scotland with England, describing this literary unification as “a greater achievement than the Union of the Parliaments.”

He reflected on:

• The evolution of literary standards, arguing that while overall literary quality may have risen, true peaks of greatness are less frequent today.
• A decline in the younger generation's engagement with classic literature, including the Waverley novels.
• Scepticism toward the educational practice of compelling literature through school exams, which may foster aversion rather than admiration.
• The continued importance of Greek and Latin classics in developing intellectual depth.

He praised his old colleague, Sir George Saintsbury, and concluded by asking the Club to toast “Literature,” coupled with the name of Sir George Douglas.

3. Response by Sir George Douglas
Douglas humorously doubted Lodge’s wisdom in choosing him as respondent, but went on to speak compellingly.

Highlights:

• He criticised the overemphasis on fiction in public libraries and warned against superficial reading habits, using Ethel M. Dell and others as examples of popular but light literature.
• He lamented a slump in high achievement, due to overproduction, yet acknowledged living literary greats:
• Thomas Hardy, whom he called “the Wessex Shakespeare,” with The Return of the Native compared to The Bride of Lammermoor.
• Joseph Conrad, offering a melancholic but artistic view of sea life.
• He mentioned a literary drought across Europe, with Spain as a rare exception, praising its vigorous, soil-rooted fiction.

His final rallying cry was for readers to “master the idiom and invade the Peninsula” – a witty endorsement of Spanish literature.

4. The City of Edinburgh
Proposed by Sir H. Arthur Rose, responded to by Bailie White.


5. The Chairman
Proposed by Rev. Dr R. H. Fisher.

Other Notable Mentions:

• The Menu Card, designed by Mr James Hay, featured a portrait of the President.
• Mr Gordon Brown performed songs, accompanied by Mr J. W. Cowie on piano.

Interesting Points Worth Noting

• The humour and elegance with which literature was discussed, blending genuine concern with light anecdotes (e.g. Rosebery locking the door to keep his children listening to Scott).
• The international lens applied to literature, comparing Britain's literary health with that of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
• A growing tension between popular fiction and literary quality already apparent in 1922.
• The intergenerational gap in literary appreciation was keenly felt and discussed with a critical but not dismissive tone.

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