I wonder whether the arrival of any modern celebrity could create as much excitement in Dublin nowadays as caused by the visit of Sir Walter Scott in July, 1825. According to the newspapers of the period, his carriage was followed in the streets by cheering crowds and when he attended the theatre the whole audience stood up and applauded. Sir Walter was accompanied by Lockhart and Miss Scott, and stayed in St. Stephen's Green, at the house of his son who was an officer in the 15th Hussars, at that time stationed in Dublin. He visited many places of interest in the city, including Marsh's Library, where he was much amused at the savage onslaught on Scotland pencilled by Swift on the margin of Clarendon's "History of the Rebellion." There also he saw the desk which his friend Maturin had constructed, and on which he wrote several of his works.
Scott was greatly interested in Irish antiquities, and spent several mornings at the book-carts on the quays looking for books on the subject. He found none, and a friend who accompanied him stated afterwards that, although Scott spent some hours at the barrows, he did not open a single book, but merely glanced at the titles and passed on. Before he left the city, however, he purchased £60 worth of books at Mr Milliken's in Grafton street.
The Irish Times, February 28th, 1931.