The RSCDS attributes this dance to Button, Whitaker & Beadnell, in the book Twenty Four Country Dances with Figures by Mr. Wilson for the Year 1816, but no dance with either name is listed in the Regency Dance site's list of all dances published by Button & Whitaker. Nor can I find any reference to a dance with either of the names Waverley and Fergus McIver in any other place.

On the other hand the use of double triangles does imply Wilson is the deviser (Assuming that was part of the original figure)

Wilson defined all his figures in his book The Analysis of Country Dancing. Double triangles appear in the 3rd edition of that work. Wilson's double triangles are completely different from those of the RSCDS. Wilson probably invented the figure and used the term to mean: the middle couple loop first corner right shoulder pass outside partner's place, then loop 2nd corner right shoulder and return to place.

A dance with this name was published by Button & Whittaker, but whether it matches the figure I do not know. The RSCDS attributes this dance to the publishers but Wilson was the deviser: see the Regency Dance site's paper on Button and Co. The use of double triangles does suggest Wilson was the choreographer.

A dance with this name was published by Button & Whittaker, but whether it matches the figure I do not know. The RSCDS attributes this dance to the publishers but Wilson was the deviser: see the Regency Dance site's paper on Button and Co. The use of double triangles does suggest Wilson was the choreographer.

In his A Companion to the Ball Room, 1816, Thomas Wilson published Lady Bairds Reel:

SINGLE FIGURE Each strain repeated
Set & change sides with 2^d. Cu: set & back again   lead down the middle up again & right & left with the top Cu:  

OR THUS The 1^st. lady lead down the 2^d. gent: the 1^st. gent: lead down the 2^d. lady   lead down the middle with your partner up again & set to the top Cu:  
DOUBLE FIGURE Tune played twice thro with repeats
Promenade 3 Cu:   whole poussette   set 3 across set 3 in your places   & the double triangle  

Wilson's music consists of two 4 bar strains, both repeated. The RSCDS chose to interpret the DOUBLE FIGURE so the music should be played AABBAABB.

Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing, 3rd Edition.

1. promenade 3 Cu: is defined on page 18 and means that all three couples take promenade hold and, with the 1s leading, travel in a counter-clockwise elipse around and back to places.
2. whole poussette is defined on page 15 and means: "top two couples join hands with partner, circle, counter-clockwise, one and a half times around the other couple to change places with them."
   Note: this is unlike a normal English Poussette as the couples travel once and a half around each other rather than once. And is quite different from the Scottish Poussette.
3. set 3 across & set 3 in your places is defined on page 21 and means: "L1 moves between the 2s as M1 moves between 3s, then the lines of three across set, then L1 moves back to her place and M1 back to his, and then lines of three on the sides set to each other.
4. the double triangle is defined on page 113 and means: "the middle couple loop first corner right shoulder pass outside partner's place, then loop 2nd corner right shoulder and return to place.
   This is completely different from the RSCDS version of double triangles.

Wilson, on page 96, writes:

SINGLE FIGURE Tune played straight thro
Cross over 1 Cu: half figure round the 3^d Cu:   & lead outsides  
OR THUSCast off 2 Cu: & back again   & whole poussette  
DOUBLE FIGURE Each strain repeated
Hey on your own sides   lead down the middle up again allemande   turn corners   & the double triangle  

This is an interpretation of the DOUBLE FIGURE. The music is two 8 bar strains (jigs) both repeated.

Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing.
Hey on your own sides is only defined as part of "Hey Contrary Sides, and Hey of your own Sides" on page 83 and he shows a mirror/reflection hey.
lead down the middle up again may be found on pages 10-11 and means: "lead down two couples, turn, lead up to the place of the couple who were below (who move up)" Wilson does not specify a hand hold for the lead, nor whether the 2s take hands.
allemande may be found on page 7 and appears to mean going about your partner in a circle. In a later edition of Analysis Wilson adds the phrase "back to back". Wilson does not define a "back to back" figure. His allemande is a bit rounder than a normal back to back but perhaps that is the closest equivalent.
This is an unusual meaning for "allemande", but, as best as I can understand, that is what Wilson describes.
turn corners may be found on pages 28-32 and appears to mean: the 1s pass partner right shoulder to turn first corners with both hands, then pass each other right shoulder to turn second corners (presumably again with both hands, though Wilson does not specify), finally passing each other left to return to places.
the double triangle does not appear until the 3rd edition of the Analysis on page 113 and means: the middle couple loop first corner right shoulder pass outside partner's place, then loop 2nd corner right shoulder and return to place.
This is completely different from the RSCDS version of double triangles.

According to the the Regency Dance site Wilson devised, and Button & Whitaker published, a dance with this name but whether its figure matches the RSCDS's, I cannot say.

Since the dance contains double triangles, it seems likely Wilson was its deviser.

According to the the Regency Dance site Wilson devised, and Button & Whitaker published, a dance with this name but whether its figure matches the RSCDS's, I cannot say.

Since the dance contains double triangles, it seems likely Wilson was its deviser.

SINGLE FIGURE Each strain repeated
Set & change sides with 2^d. Cu: set & back again   lead down the middle up again & right & left with top Cu:  

OR THUS Cast off 2 Cu: & back again   lead down the middle up again & allemande  

DOUBLE FIGURE Tune played twice thro with repeats
Hands 3 round on the ladies side, hands 3 round on the gent: side   lead down the middle up again cast round the top Cu:   set 3 across set 3 in your places   half poussette with top Cu: & lead thro the bottom  

The music consists of two eight bar strains. So if you repeat each strain you get 32 bars, which doesn't make sense for a SINGLE FIGURE. I think Wilson must have a misprint.

None of Wilson's figure's matches the RSCDS version very closely. The DOUBLE FIGURE at least begins with the two circles, followed by a lead down, up and cast. After that things are completely different.

Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing, 3rd Edition.

1. Hands 3 round on the ladies side, hands 3 round on the gent: side this figure does not seem to be defined in any of Wilson's books - which is odd because Wilson uses it frequently. In The Sutherland Reel the RSCDS interpreted it as: "Hands three round at top on the Ladies' side, etc." which has the 1s circling with L2, and then the 1s circling with M2. Whereas in Ruffian's Rant they have the three ladies circling, and then the three gents - which seems a more obvious reading of the words.
2. lead down the middle up again cast round the top Cu: may be found on page 27 Top couple leads down to between the third couple, 1s turn and lead up to the top and cast down as the second couple moves up. (Wilson's pictures show them moving up the sidelines and not leading)
3. set 3 across & set 3 in your places is defined on page 21 and means: "L1 moves between the 2s as M1 moves between 3s, then the lines of three across set, then L1 moves back to her place and M1 back to his, and then lines of three on the sides set to each other.
4. half poussette is defined on page 14 and means "top two couples join hands with partner, circle, counter-clockwise, around the other couple to return to places."
   Note: that this is actually two thirds of the whole poussette as defined by Wilson, and what most people would call a full poussette.
5. lead thro the bottom does not seem to be defined. I assume it means lead through the bottom couple and cast back to the middle.

SINGLE FIGURE (Each strain repeat)
Set & change sides with 2^d. Cu: set & back again   swing with right hands round 2^d. Cu: & allemande  

OR THUS The 1^st lady meets & turns the 2^d gent: the 1^st. gent: meets and turns the 2^d lady   lead down the middle up again & set to the top Cu:  

DOUBLE FIGURE (Tune played twice thro' with repeats)
Hands 6 round & back   promenade 3 Cu:   whole poussette   & the double triangle  

Wilson spells the title as "The Carle came o'er the Craft".

The music consists of two 4 bar strains.

The RSCDS is interpretting Wilson's DOUBLE FIGURE (The Wilson's poussette and double triangle are completely different from those of the RSCDS).

Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing, 3rd Edition.

1. hands 6 round & back again may be found on page 5 and means what you expect. All take hands and circle left then right.
2. promenade 3 Cu: is defined on page 18 and means that all three couples take promenade hold and, with the 1s leading, travel in a counter-clockwise elipse around and back to places.
3. whole poussette is defined on page 15 and means: "top two couples join hands with partner, circle, counter-clockwise, one and a half times around the other couple to change places with them."
   Note: this is unlike a normal English Poussette as the couples travel once and a half around each other rather than once. And is quite different from the Scottish Poussette.
4. the double triangle is defined on page 113 and means: "the middle couple loop first corner right shoulder pass outside partner's place, then loop 2nd corner right shoulder and return to place.
   This is completely different from the RSCDS version of double triangles.