“The Antiquary,” begun towards the close of 1815, was issued in May 1816. Six days sufficed to exhaust the edition, which consisted of as many thousand copies. This work attained a popularity not inferior to that of its predecessors. It was while correcting the proof-sheets of this novel that the author took to fabricating mottoes for the chapter headings. One day John Ballantyne, who was sitting beside him, was asked to hunt for a certain passage in Beaumont and Fletcher, and as he did not succeed, “Hang it, Johnnie,” said Scott, “I believe I can make a motto sooner than you will find one.” From that time he had recourse to his own invention, attributing the mottoes to “old ballad” or “old play.”
The same year, October 1816, saw the publication of another volume of the Edinburgh Annual Register, containing an historical sketch of the year 1814 by Scott, sufficient of itself to form the contents of a large volume.
On the 1st of December 1816 the First Series of the “Tales of My Landlord,” containing “Old Mortality” and “The Black Dwarf,” appeared, but minus the talismanic words “By the Author of ‘Waverley.’” This work, published by John Murray, was received with undiminished favour; and all doubt as to whether these “Tales” proceeded from the pen of the author of “Waverley” was set at rest in a week, and within two months three editions of 2000 each were printed. Murray and Blackwood had still in stock a large number of copies of this book, when John Ballantyne advertised a new edition, in disregard of arrangements with the publishers. He was expostulated with, and threatened with an action for damages; but as this would have revealed the author, who was still the “Great Unknown,” the matter was compromised and the books were transferred to Constable.
“Harold the Dauntless, by the Author of ‘Triermain,’” was published in January 1817. The “History of the Year 1815,” by Scott, appeared in the Register, published in August 1817; and time was also found to prepare an Introduction to a richly illustrated quarto edition of the “Border Antiquities,” which was issued a month later.
“Rob Roy,” projected in May and arranged for by Constable, was issued in December 1817. It started with a first edition of 10,000, and within a fortnight a second of 3000 more was required. While the manuscript of the novels was usually transcribed by the Ballantynes, this one was copied by George Stillie, a clerk at Paul’s Work. He died a few days after James Ballantyne in 1833. His brother James was in the service of John Ballantyne in Hanover Street, and, on the failure of that business, was employed at Paul’s Work. James Stillie was afterwards a bookseller in Edinburgh for many years, and his shop in George Street was the resort of book-collectors from all parts of the kingdom—including Mr. Gladstone when he came to Edinburgh. He lived to a great age, and died in August 1893.
Scott had scarcely completed “Rob Roy” when he projected the Second Series of the “Tales of My Landlord,” in which was comprised “The Heart of Midlothian,” to be ready by the 4th June 1818, at which date it duly appeared. The Third Series of the “Tales” came out on the 10th June 1819. This Series included “The Bride of Lammermoor” and the “Legend of Montrose.” Scott had suffered severely in health for some time previous, and the work was received with a sad presentiment that it might be the last from its author’s pen; but, except in a few errors, the result of his inability to correct the proof-sheets, no one could perceive the slightest indication of his illness.
On the 18th December 1819 the romance of “Ivanhoe” appeared. The work was hailed in England “with a more clamorous delight than any of the Scotch novels had been.” It came out in three vols., post 8vo, price 30s., and in this original form 12,000 copies were sold. “Mr. Ballantyne the printer, who is a good judge, speaks very highly of this romance” (“Scott’s Letters,” ii. 63).
“The Monastery” was published by Longman & Co. in March 1820. It appeared in three vols. 12mo, like the earlier works of the Series. Its popularity was enhanced by “The Abbot,” which followed in September, published by the same firm, in conjunction with Constable.
“Kenilworth” appeared in January 1821, three vols. post 8vo, similar to “Ivanhoe,” and this form was adhered to in all the subsequent volumes of the Series. “Kenilworth” was one of the most successful of all at the time of publication, and will probably continue to hold a place in the highest rank of prose fiction.