[Footnote 44: Scott's theory as to the authorship of ballads is even now held by Mr. Courthope. At the end of his chapter on Minstrelsy, in _The History of English Poetry_, he thus sums up the matter: "All the evidence cited in this chapter shows that, so far from the ballad being a spontaneous product of popular imagination, it was a type of poem adapted by the professors of the declining art of minstrelsy, from the romances once in favour with the educated classes. Everything in the ballad--matter, form, composition--is the work of the minstrel; all that the people do is to remember and repeat what the minstrel has put together." This statement represents a position which is actively assailed by the adherents of the communal origin theory. Another critical idea which originated in Germany, and in which Scott had no interest, though he knew something about it, was the Wolffian hypothesis in regard to the Homeric poems. He once heard Coleridge expound the subject, but failed to join in the discussion. (_Journal_, Vol. II, p. 164; _Lockhart_, Vol. V, p. 193.) He said the theory could never be held by any _poet_. See a note by Lockhart on the essay on _Popular Poetry_. Henderson's edition of _Minstrelsy_, Vol. I, p. 3.] [Footnote 45: Review of Cromek's _Reliques of Burns_. _Quarterly Review_, February, 1809.] [Footnote 46: "No one but Burns ever succeeded in patching up old Scottish songs with any good effect," Scott wrote in his _Journal_ (Vol. II, p. 25). And in his review of Cromek's _Reliques of Burns_ he said on the same subject of Scottish songs: "Few, whether serious or humorous, past through his hands without receiving some of those magic touches which, without greatly altering the song, restored its original spirit, or gave it more than it had ever possessed." (_Quarterly_, February, 1809.)] [Footnote 47: _Remarks on Popular Poetry_, Henderson's edition of _Minstrelsy_, Vol. I, p. 46.] [Footnote 48: Henderson's edition of _Minstrelsy_, Vol. I, p. xix.] [Footnote 49: Henderson's edition of _Minstrelsy_, Vol. I, pp. 167-8.] [Footnote 50: The matter may be traced in Child's collection of ballads, or more easily in the latest edition of the _Minstrelsy_, edited by T.F. Henderson and published in four volumes in 1902. Mr. Henderson's views of ballad origins are quite in accord with Scott's own, but he notes the points at which Scott failed to follow any originals. There seems to be some reason to believe, however, though Mr. Henderson does not say so, that Scott wrote _Kinmont Willie_ without any originals at all, except the very similar situations in three or four other ballads. See the introduction by Professor Kittredge to the abridged edition of Child's ballads, edited by himself and Helen Child Sargent.