In chronological order another Kelso book falls to be noticed here, before we come to the important time of the association of Scott and Ballantyne with the “Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.” The reproduced title shows it to be the life of Count Boruwlaski, a celebrated dwarf, who died in 1837 at Durham, in the ninety-ninth year of his age.[4] The book, a copy of which is at Paul’s Work, bears the date of 1801, and must of course have been issued during the dwarf’s lifetime. In a letter to Mr. Morritt, soon after the publication of “Waverley,” Scott has the following humorous reference to the Count:—“I am heartily glad you continued to like ‘Waverley’ to the end. The hero is a sneaking piece of imbecility; and if he had married Flora, she would have set him up upon the chimney-piece, as Count Boruwlaski’s wife used to do with him.”
In connection with this chapter on Kelso work, it is gratifying to be able to print here, besides the facsimile of the first page of No. 1 of the Kelso Mail, a reduced facsimile of a playbill for the “New Theatre” at Kelso for Monday, November 16, 1801.[5]
CHAPTER II
REMOVAL TO EDINBURGH
The “Apology” having proved thoroughly satisfactory to Scott, he wrote to Ballantyne: “I have been for years collecting old Border ballads, and I think I could, with little trouble, put together such a selection from them as might make a neat little volume to sell for four or five shillings. I will talk to some of the booksellers about it when I get to Edinburgh, and if the thing goes on, you shall be the printer.” Ballantyne was delighted with the proposal; and the result of this venture changed the whole course of his fortunes, as well as those of his friend and patron.
The “neat little volume” alluded to grew into the “Border Minstrelsy,” the editor being fortunate enough to arouse the interest of many scholars and antiquaries, who gave him valuable help in the work. The first two volumes were printed and issued by Ballantyne in 1802, and bore the Kelso imprint (Vol. I. 258 + 146; II. 392 + 6). The edition consisted of eight hundred copies, fifty of which were on large paper. It was disposed of in the course of the year; and the terms of publication having been that Scott should receive half the clear profits, his share amounted to £78, 10s. When the book appeared, the obscure imprint of “Kelso” was regarded with wonder by connoisseurs of typography, who had probably never heard of such a place, and were astonished at the specimen of handsome printing this provincial town had produced: it was received with the exclamation, “What a beautiful book!”[6] The editor’s name did not appear on the title-page, but was appended to the Dedication to the Duke of Buccleuch. A third volume of the “Minstrelsy” followed in 1803, and was published along with a reprint of the first two volumes. It had Edinburgh on the imprint.