“The Vision of Don Roderick,” which was Scott’s contribution to the fund in aid of the sufferers from Massena’s campaign in Portugal in 1810, was published in a quarto volume in July 1811; and the romance of “Rokeby,” another quarto, in January 1813. The edition consisted of 3250 copies, of which only eighty remained unsold on the second day of publication. “Rokeby” was followed within two months by a small volume, “The Bridal of Triermain.” The MS. of this poem was transcribed by one or other of the Ballantynes, in order to guard against any indiscretion in the printing-office, as the little work was to be issued at first anonymously, “as a trap for Jeffrey.” He was not deceived, however, although other critics thought the work an imitation of Scott.
The “Life and Works of Swift,” in nineteen volumes, undertaken by Scott for Constable, was issued from the Ballantyne Press on the 1st of July 1814. The impression consisted of 1250 copies, and a second impression of the same number was required in 1824. This work was again printed at Paul’s Work in 1882-84 for Bickers & Son, London.
How much longer Scott would have continued to work out the vein of poetry within him we cannot say. He was still turning out rich ore when Byron electrified the world with his “Childe Harold.” Scott at once recognised that he had met his superior, and that his supremacy as a popular poet was seriously threatened. Many years after, only a few months before he died, he was talking over the events of his career with Lockhart, his son-in-law.
“‘I asked him,’ said Lockhart, ‘why he had ever relinquished poetry.’
“‘Because Byron bet me,’ Scott replied, pronouncing the word beat short. ‘He bet me out of the field in the description of the strong passions, and in deep-seated knowledge of the human heart; so I gave up poetry for the time.’”
But when we look at the rich legacy that Scott has left us in his Waverley Novels we cannot regret this. One morning, in searching an old desk for some fishing-flies, he found the forgotten MS. of the first two or three chapters of “Waverley,” which he had written some time before. He read over the fragment, thought it had promise of good in it, and determined to finish the story. This trifling circumstance led to the unparalleled series of romances which were read with wonder and delight when they first appeared, and which will continue to charm so long as our language endures.
CHAPTER V
JOHN BALLANTYNE, PUBLISHER
The business at Paul’s Work continuing to prosper, about 1808 or 1809 a new venture was made by John Ballantyne commencing as publisher, with Scott as a “silent” partner. He took the designation of “Bookseller to the Regent.” This firm was projected as the result of a quarrel between Scott and Constable, regarding a political article which appeared in the Edinburgh Review—to which he occasionally contributed—combined also with the reputed incivility which he received from Mr. Hunter, the publisher’s partner. The capital for the new firm was arranged, and a deed, deposited for the purpose of secrecy in the hands of Scott, laid the foundation of the firm of John Ballantyne & Co., publishers and booksellers, Edinburgh. Scott appears to have found most of the capital; and “jocund Johnny” was installed in Hanover Street as the avowed rival of Constable, and as publisher in Scotland, for John Murray, of the new Quarterly Review, which had been started in opposition to the Edinburgh.
