The splendid romance of “The Pirate” was published in the beginning of December 1821; and “The Fortunes of Nigel” on the 30th May 1822, followed in June by the dramatic sketch of “Halidon Hill.” For the copyright of the last Constable paid Scott the sum of £1000. “Nigel” took its place amongst the first of Scott’s romances, and on publication was eagerly sought after. According to a letter of Constable, “so keenly were the people devouring my friend Jingling Geordie” (George Heriot, one of the leading characters in the story), “that I actually saw them reading it in the streets” (of London) “as they passed along.”
At this time the profits of the author’s works were estimated at from £10,000 to £15,000 a year, and Ballantyne’s presses were taxed to their utmost. In addition to the ordinary work of the office, he had also in hand for Constable a reprint of Scott’s Poetical Works, miniature edition, ten vols., 5000 copies; Novels and Tales, twelve vols., miniature edition, 5000 copies; Historical Romances, six vols., 5000 copies; Poetry from “Waverley,” &c., one vol., 5000 copies—equal to 145,000 volumes; to which from thirty to forty thousand may be added as the result of Scott’s daily industry within the space of twelve months.
“Peveril of the Peak” appeared in January 1823. The work was at first rather coldly received, but was finally pronounced not unworthy of Scott’s pen. “Quentin Durward” followed in June, and attained great popularity. In this novel he had, for the first time, ventured on foreign ground, and the French public were seized with a frenzy of delight, to find that Louis XI. and Charles the Bold had started into life again under the wand of the Northern Magician. The excitement in Paris equalled that of Edinburgh under the influence of the first appearance of “Waverley,” or that of London under the spell of “Ivanhoe.”
Constable during this year completed the purchase from Scott of the copyright of the Waverley Novels, for which he had paid up to this time the sum of £22,000, in addition to Scott’s half-share of profits of the early editions. The novel of “St. Ronan’s Well” was published in December 1823.
Immediately on the conclusion of “St. Ronan’s Well,” Sir Walter began “Redgauntlet,” which was published in June 1824. It was originally called “Herries,” until Constable and James Ballantyne persuaded the author to choose the more striking name. This fascinating work contains more of the author’s personal experiences than any of his previous fictions, or even than all of them put together,—not to mention the incomparable legend of “Wandering Willie’s Tale.” It was the only novel Scott produced during this year, but he was abundantly occupied in preparing for press the second edition of his voluminous Swift, the additions and corrections to which were numerous and careful. Towards the end of the year the “Tales of the Crusaders” were begun, and were issued in June 1825. “The Betrothed” found little favour with James Ballantyne, and his remonstrance weighed so much with the author that he resolved to cancel it altogether. Meanwhile, spurred by disappointment, he began another story, “The Talisman.” The brightness of this new tale dazzled the eyes of the public; and the burst of favour which attended the brilliant procession of Saladin and Cœur-de-Lion considerably modified Scott’s literary plans, and “The Betrothed” was issued under its wing.
“The Letters of Malachi Malagrowther,” written against the Government proposal to interfere with the Scottish banking system,[27] appeared on the 1st of March 1826; and on the day following Scott writes: “The First Epistle of Malachi already out of print.” These Letters—of which there were three—first appeared in Ballantyne’s Edinburgh Weekly Journal, and were afterwards collected into a pamphlet and published by Blackwood. This ran into numerous editions, the Scottish banks taking hundreds of copies for gratuitous circulation. It was often referred to in subsequent discussions in Parliament, and is believed to have had considerable influence in causing the abandonment of the measure. A fourth Letter was written in December 1830, but, in deference to the opinions of James Ballantyne and Cadell the publisher, the essay, though put in type, was never issued, and manuscript and proof were finally consigned to the flames.
“Woodstock,” written during a period of great commercial distress, was finished in April and issued in June 1826. This most successful novel realised the large sum of £8228.
The “Life of Bonaparte,” which had been in progress during two years of deep affliction, was published in June 1827. Its contents are equal to thirteen volumes of the Waverley Novels in their original form. The first and second editions produced the enormous sum of £18,000. Regarding the “Life of Bonaparte” there is a characteristic entry in Scott’s “Journal,” dated September 6, 1826, referring to some suggestions of James Ballantyne:—
“I had a letter from Jem Ballantyne—plague on him!—full of remonstrance, deep and solemn, upon the carelessness of ‘Bonaparte.’ The rogue is right, too. But as to correcting my style to the ‘Jemmy jemmy linkum feedle’ tune of what is called fine writing, I’ll be d——d if I do.”
Scott also at this time superintended the first collection of his Prose Miscellanies, published in six vols. 8vo, several articles being remodelled and extended to adapt them for a more permanent existence than had been originally thought of.