Download the [transcript] or read the [bulletin]

Summary of the Speech:

Professor Jane Millgate’s toast was a deeply personal and scholarly reflection on her journey as a Scott scholar, her work on Scott’s letters, and her admiration for his literary legacy. Below are the key themes and notable points:

1. Personal Connection to the Club and Scott

• On becoming President, she initially questioned her qualifications, lacking a legal background, Scottish heritage, or direct links to Scott’s circle.
• She found comfort in the Club’s founding principle of “the collection and preservation of letters and other relics connected with Scott’s name.”
• Her scholarly work on Scott’s letters provided her justification for accepting the presidency.

2. Her Path to Scott Through Macaulay

• Her initial interest in Scott was sparked by her research on historian Thomas Babington Macaulay, who saw Scott as a historian in his own right.
• Macaulay admitted feeling intimidated by Scott’s historical knowledge, confessing that “Sir Walter had been there before him” when researching Scottish history.
• This led Millgate to read Scott not just for context but for the sheer brilliance of his writing.

3. The Importance of Scott’s Letters

• She spent seven years creating an electronic catalogue of Scott’s correspondence, improving accessibility for scholars worldwide.
• She discovered that the Grierson edition of Scott’s letters (published in the 1930s) was incomplete, missing thousands of letters and important details.
• Her project aimed to locate both Scott’s outgoing and incoming letters, many of which were scattered across the world.

4. Tracking Down Scott’s Correspondence

• She sent over a thousand letters of enquiry to libraries globally, uncovering lost Scott letters in places as far as New Zealand, Germany, and the United States.
• Some unexpected finds:
• A Scott letter about emigration policy in Canada found in Yale’s Beinecke Library, rather than in its original Winnipeg location.
• A manuscript page of Kenilworth and two Scott letters in Coburg, Germany.
• Letters at a subscription library in New York once owned by John Ruskin, an admirer of Scott.
• She located over 7,000 letters by Scott, doubling the previous known number, and discovered 3,200 unpublished letters.

5. Scott’s Generosity and Literary Correspondence

• Many of Scott’s letters show his kindness to aspiring writers, offering critiques despite claiming he never gave literary advice.
• He often helped struggling authors get published or supported their books by subscribing to multiple copies.
• A humorous story:
• He once received a massive, postage-heavy package from a New York woman who wanted him to edit her play, write a prologue, get it staged at Drury Lane, and sell it to publishers.
• Two weeks later, she sent the same play again, fearing the first had been lost at sea.
• Scott’s annual postage bill was £150—half his salary as Sheriff of Selkirk!

6. Call for Continued Preservation of Scott’s Legacy

• She urged Scott enthusiasts to search for lost letters that may be hidden in family collections.
• She highlighted the importance of the Union Catalogue of Scott Correspondence, now accessible via the National Library of Scotland website.
• Her hope: that 21st-century scholars working on a comprehensive edition of Scott’s letters would remember her efforts.

7. Final Toast to Sir Walter Scott

• She closed with a call to continue Scott’s legacy of collecting and preserving knowledge, reminding the audience that Scott himself was a dedicated collector of relics and documents.
• She then invited everyone to raise a glass to the memory of Sir Walter Scott.

Interesting Points:

• Scott as a Historian’s Historian: Macaulay, a major Victorian historian, felt Scott had already charted the historical landscape before him.
• Literary Detective Work: Millgate’s global search for Scott’s letters was akin to an adventure, uncovering hidden literary treasures in unexpected places.
• Scott’s Generosity: His support for struggling writers, despite his own financial struggles, showcases his deep commitment to literature.
• Digital Legacy: Her creation of an electronic catalogue ensures that Scott’s letters remain accessible for future scholars.

Overall, Millgate’s toast was a blend of personal reflection, scholarly dedication, and deep admiration for Scott, emphasizing his importance as both a literary figure and a human being of great generosity and wit. 

Download the [transcript] or read the [bulletin]

Link: [Millgate Union Catalogue of Walter Scott Correspondence]

You may also like: 

1993: Professor Jane Millgate - Scott and the Victorians > [transcript]