Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 03.djvu/86

 published a treatise on 'Stained Glass, showing its applicability to every style of Architecture,' and was appointed by the royal commissioners on the fine arts to execute the stained-glass windows for the House of Lords. He was the author of several popular works: There is also a volume of verses published by Ballantine in Jamaica, whither in later life he seems to have retired for the benefit of his health. 'The Gaberlunzie's Wallet' and some of his songs are still popular in Scotland. He died in Edinburgh in December 1877. He was the head of the firm of Messrs. Ballantine, glass stainers, Edinburgh.
 * 1) 'The Gaberlunzie's Wallet,' 1843.
 * 2) 'The Miller of Deanhaugh,' 1845.
 * 3) An 'Essay on Ornamental Art,' 1847.
 * 4) 'Poems,' 1856.
 * 5) 'One Hundred Songs, with Music,' 1865.
 * 6) 'The Life of David Roberts, R.A.' 1866.



BALLANTYNE, JAMES (1772–1833), the printer of Sir Walter Scott's works, was the son of a general merchant in Kelso, where he was born in 1772. His friendship with Scott began in 1783 at the grammar school of Kelso. After mastering his lessons, Scott used to whisper to Ballantyne, 'Come, slink over beside me, Jamie, and I'll tell you a story;' and in the interval of school hours it was also their custom to walk together by the banks of the Tweed, engaged in the same occupation. Before entering the office of a solicitor in Kelso, Ballantyne passed the winter of 1785-6 at Edinburgh University. His apprenticeship concluded, he again went to Edinburgh to attend the class of Scots law, and on this occasion renewed his acquaintance with Scott at the Teviotdale club, of which both were members. In 1795 he commenced practice as a solicitor in Kelso, but as his business was not immediately successful he undertook in the following year the printing and editing of an anti-democratic weekly newspaper, the 'Kelso Mail.' A casual conversation with Scott, in 1799, led to his printing, under the title of 'Apologies for Tales of Terror,' a few copies of some ballads which Scott had written for Lewis's Miscellany, 'Tales of Wonder.' So pleased was Scott with the beauty of the type, that he declared that Ballantyne should be the printer of the collection of old Border ballads, with which he had been occupied for several years. They were published under the title of 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' the first two volumes appearing in Jan. 1802; and the connection thus inaugurated between author and printer remained uninterrupted through 'good and bad weather' to the close of Scott's life.

Induced by the strong representations of Scott, Ballantyne, about the close of 1802, removed to Edinburgh, 'finding accommodation for two presses and a proof one in the precincts of Holyrood House.' Scott, besides advancing a loan of 500l., exerted himself to procure for him both legal and literary printing; and such was the reputation soon acquired by his press for beauty and correctness of execution that in 1805 the capital at his command was too small to fulfil the contracts that were offered him, and he applied to Scott for a second loan, who thereupon became a third sharer in the business. In 1808 the firm of John Ballantyne & Co., booksellers, was also started, Scott having one half share, and James and John Ballantyne one fourth each. [q.v.] undertook the management of the book-selling and publishing business, the printing business continuing under the superintendence of the elder brother; but the actual head of both concerns was Scott, who, although in establishing them he was actuated by a friendly interest in the Ballantynes, wished both to find a convenient method of engaging in a commercial undertaking without risk to his status in society, and also as an author to avoid the irksome intervention of a publisher between him and the reading public. The publishing business was gradually discontinued, but the printing business was in itself a brilliant success. The high perfection to which Ballantyne had brought the art of printing, and his connection with Scott, secured such enormous employment for his press that a large pecuniary profit was almost an inevitable necessity. But though not deficient in natural shrewdness, he was careless in his money transactions, and it was the artistic and literary aspect of his business that chiefly engaged his interest. Much of his time was occupied in the correction and revision of the proofs of Scott's works, the writing of critical and theatrical notices, and the editing of the 'Weekly Journal,' of which, along with his brother, he became proprietor in 1817, Scott's hurried method of composition rendered careful inspection of his proofs absolutely necessary, but the amendments of Ballantyne had reference, in addition to the minor points of grammar, to the higher matters of taste and style. Though himself a loose and bombastic writer, he had a keen eye for detecting solecisms, inaccuracies, or minute imperfections in phrases and expressions, and his hints in regard to the general treatment of a subject were often of great value. If Scott