  THE romance of "Rob Roy" was composed in 1817, and published in January of the following year. An edition of 10,000 disappeared in two weeks, when a second impression was printed. Rob Roy and his wife, Bailie Nicol Jarvie and his housekeeper, Die Vernon and Rashleigh Osbaldistone, were all favourite characters; and the novel essentially sustained the reputation of the "unknown" author. In the accompanying engraving, Mr Melville has represented the lower section of Loch Lomond, the Queen of Scottish lakes. On the right is presented the massive shoulder of Ben Lomond, which raises its lofty head 3192 feet above the ocean's level, while on the left extend the craggy forms of the Arrochar mountains. With the promise of mutual aid and good will, Bailie Nicol Jarvie and Frank Osbaldistone have parted with the Macgregor, and in their skiff bear away from the shore towards the south western angle of the lake, where it gives birth to the Leven. Rob Roy remained for some time standing on the rock, from beneath which they had departed, conspicuous by his long gun, waving tartans, and the single plume in his cap, which, in those days, denoted the Highland gentleman and soldier, though the present military taste has decorated the Highland bonnet with a quantity of black plumage, resembling that which is borne before funerals.
To every reader of "Rob Roy," the scene in Jeanie MacAlpine's public-house, sketched by Mr Cruikshank, is abundantly familiar. Let the scene be illustrated in the novelist's own words: "I (Frank Osbaldistone) put myself in a posture of defence, and, aware of the superiority of my weapon, a rapier or small sword, was little afraid of the issue of the contest. The Bailie behaved with unexpected mettle: as he saw the gigantic Highlander about to confront him with his weapon drawn, he tugged for a second or two at the hilt of his shabble, as he called it; but finding it loth to quit the sheath, to which it had long been secured by rust and disuse, he seized, as a substitute, on the red-hot coulter of a plough, which had been employed in arranging the fire by way of a poker, and brandishing it with such effect, that at the first pass he set the Highlander's plaid on fire, and compelled him to keep a respectful distance, till he could get it extinguished. Andrew Fairservice, who ought to have faced the Lowland champion, vanished at the very commencement of the fray; but his antagonist, crying 'fair-play,' seemed courteously disposed to take no share in the scuffle.' Osbaldistone's aim was to possess himself of his antagonist's weapon, but he declined from closing with him through fear of a dirk which he held in his left hand. The Bailie, notwithstanding the success of his first onset, was sorely bested. The weight of his weapon, the corpulence of his person, the very effervescence of his own passion, were rapidly exhausting his strength and his breath, and he was almost at the mercy of his antagonist, when up started the sleeping Highlander, with his naked sword and target in his hand, and threw himself between the discomfited magistrate and his assailant, exclaiming, 'Her ownsell has eaten the town bread at the cross o' Glasgow; and by her troth, she'll fight for Bailie Sharvie at the clachan of Aberfoil.'"
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