SIR WALTER SCOTT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A LUNATIC.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 977, 29 December 1882, Page 2

SIR WALTER SCOTT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A LUNATIC.

Sir Walter Scott was in the habit of employing in literary work a German student named AVcber. Being an interesting person, he became a favourite with Scott’s household, and often dined with them. Sir Walter, knowing that Weber was inclined to drink too freely, encouraged this intimacy, that he might keep him as much as possible from temptation. When Sir Walter left Edinburgh at Christmas, 1813, the two parted kindly, and on the day after his return Weber was with him in the library, as usual, making extracts. As the light began to fail Scott leaned back in his chair, and was about to ring for candles,, when seeing the German looking at him with unusual solemnity, be asked what was the matter. “Mr Scott,” said Weber, rising, “ you have long insulted me, and I can bear it no longer. 1 have brought a pair of pistols, and must insist on your taking one .of them instantly.” And ho produced the weapons which had been placed under his chair, and laid one of them on Scott’s paper. “ Yon are mistaken, I think,” said Scott, “ in your way of setting about this aifair—but no matter. It can, however, be no part of your object to annoy Mrs Scott and the children ; therefore, if you please, wc will put pistols into tho drawer till after dinner, and thou arrange to go out together like gentlemen.” Weber answered with tho same coolness : “I believe that will bo better,” and laid the second pistol on tho table. Scott locked both in his drawer, saying ; “ I am glad you have felt the propriety of ■my suggestion ; let me only request further that nothing may occur at dinner to give my' wife any suspicion of what has been passing.” Scott then went to his dressing-room, and immediately sent a message to one of Weber’s intimate companions, who came and took him away. He had been on a long walk through the Highlands, during which bo had drunk so heavily as to unsettle his mind. He became a hopeless lunatic, and, until Ids death, was supported at Scott’s expense in an asylum at York. -But for the great novelist’s self-control, there would have been a murder in that quiet library.