As if before them they had got
The worn-out wriggler—Walter Scott.”
About 40,000 copies of “Waverley” were sold previous to the publication of the first uniform edition of the novels, with introductions and notes by the author, in 1829.
“The Lord of the Isles,” which Scott alludes to as closing his poetic labours upon an extended scale, appeared on the 18th January 1815. This poem, the title of which was originally intended to be “The Nameless Glen,” was received with perhaps less favour than former ones. Regarding “The Lord of the Isles,” James Ballantyne had a somewhat delicate task to perform, of which he left the following account: “‘Well, James,’ said Scott to his printer, ‘I have given you a week; what are people saying about “The Lord of the Isles”?’ I hesitated a little, after the fashion of Gil Blas, but he speedily brought the matter to a point. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘speak out, my good fellow; what has put it into your head to be on so much ceremony with me all of a sudden? But I see how it is, the result is given in one word—Disappointment!’ My silence admitted his inference to the fullest extent. His countenance certainly did look rather blank for a few seconds; in truth, he had been wholly unprepared for the event; for it is a singular fact that, before the public, or rather the booksellers, gave their decision, he no more knew whether he had written well or ill, than whether a die thrown out of a box was to turn up a ‘size’ or an ace. However, he instantly resumed his spirits, and expressed his wonder rather that his poetic popularity should have lasted so long, than that it should now at last have given way. At length he said, with perfect cheerfulness: ‘Well, well, James, so be it;—but, you know, we must not droop, for we can’t afford to give over. Since one line has failed, we must just stick to something else,’ and so he dismissed me, and resumed his novel.”
The interest taken in the growing success of the mysterious “Waverley” was greatly heightened, and the curious public were somewhat bewildered, by the simultaneous announcement with the publication of “The Lord of the Isles” of another prose work of fiction by the A. of W——, nearly ready for issue. This work, “Guy Mannering”—the result of six weeks’ labour of the Christmas recess—appeared on the 24th February 1815, and was pronounced by universal consent to be worthy of its author. The first edition, consisting of 2000 copies, was sold out the day after publication, and within three months second and third editions, amounting to 5000 copies, were also disposed of; and before 1837 the total sale reckoned up to 50,000.
The poem of “The Field of Waterloo” was issued in October 1815, the profits of the first edition being Scott’s contribution to the fund raised for the widows and orphans of the soldiers slain in the battle. Lockhart’s “Life” (v. 99-104) contains a list, much too lengthy to reproduce here, of the Ballantynes’ suggestions on this poem, with Scott’s objections and admissions. One or two instances of those by James may, however, be given:—
“Stanza I.—‘Fair Brussels, thou art far behind.’
James Ballantyne.—I do not like this line. It is tame, and the phrase far behind has, to my feeling, some associated vulgarity.
Scott.—Stet.
Stanza VIII.—‘Nor ceased the intermitted shot.’