In Colonel Mannering, by the way, the Ettrick Shepherd recognized "Walter Scott, painted by himself." The reception of "Guy Mannering" was all that could be wished.

William Erskine and Ballantyne were "of opinion that it is much more interesting than 'Waverley.'" Mr.Morritt (March, 1815) pronounced himself to be "quite charmed with Dandie, Meg Merrilies, and Dirk Hatteraick,--characters as original as true to nature, and as forcibly conceived as, I had almost said, could have been drawn by Shakspeare himself." The public were not less appreciative.

Two thousand copies, at a guinea, were sold the day after publication, and three thousand more were disposed of in three months.

The professional critics acted just as Scott, speaking in general terms, had prophesied that they would.

Let us quote the "British Critic" (1815).
"There are few spectacles in the literary world more lamentable than to view a successful author, in his second appearance before the public, limping lamely after himself, and treading tediously and awkwardly in the very same round, which, in his first effort, he had traced with vivacity and applause.