Of _Waverley_ he said, "It may really boast to be a tolerably faithful portrait of Scottish manners."[422] He interrupts the story of _The Pirate_ to describe the charm of the leaden heart, and offers this excuse: "As this simple and original remedy is peculiar to the isles of Thule, it were unpardonable not to preserve it at length, in a narrative connected with Scottish antiquities."[423] His comment on _Ivanhoe_ was as follows: "I am convinced that however I myself may fail in the ensuing attempt, yet, with more labour in collecting, or more skill in using, the materials within his reach, illustrated as they have been by the labours of Dr.
Henry, of the late Mr.Strutt, and above all, of Mr.Sharon Turner, an abler hand would have been successful."[424] Scott's early reading was only the basis for the research that he undertook afterwards.[425] Much of this later study was accomplished when he was engaged upon such books as _Somers' Tracts_, _Dryden's_ and _Swift's Works_, and the other historical publications that make the bibliography of Scott so surprising to the ordinary reader; but some of his investigations were undertaken specifically for the novels.

The _Literary Correspondence_ of his publisher, Archibald Constable, contains many evidences of Scott's efforts, assisted often by Constable, to get antiquarian and topographical details correct in the novels.

In 1821 Constable suggested that Sir Walter write a story of the time of James I.of England, and was told, "If you can suggest anything about the period I will be happy to hear from you; you are always happy in your hints."[426] Some years earlier the author and the publisher had a correspondence concerning a series of letters on the history of Scotland which the former was planning to write, and which he wished to publish anonymously for the following reason: "I have not the least doubt that I will make a popular book, for I trust it will be both interesting and useful; but I never intended to engage in any proper historical labour, for which I have neither time, talent, nor inclination....

In truth it would take ten years of any man's life to write such a History of Scotland as he should put his name to."[427] He called his _Napoleon_ "the most severe and laborious undertaking which choice or accident ever placed on my shoulders."[428] More than once Scott expresses the opinion that though novels may be useful to arouse curiosity about history, and to impart some knowledge to people who will not do any serious thinking, they may, on the other hand, work harm by satisfying with their superficial information those who would otherwise read history.[429] It seems as if he designed the _Life of Napoleon_ and the _History of Scotland_ for a new reading class that the novels had been creating, and as if he wished to make the step of transition not too long.

We can almost fancy them as a series of graded books arranged to lead the people of Great Britain up to a sufficient height of historical information.