Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 51.djvu/104

 copy of John Ballantyne's agreement for ‘Kenilworth’ (in journal communicated by Mr. A. Constable) gives the terms of sale for it, which were little varied in other cases. Constable undertook to print twelve thousand copies; he was to raise immediately 1,600l. and each of the Ballantynes 400l. for expenses of publishing, and the profits to be divided proportionally. Scott was to be paid 4,500l. The retail price of the copies was 10s. a volume, or 1l. 10s., and they were apparently sold to the trade for about 1l. Scott thus enabled the Ballantynes to have a share in the profits, which Lockhart calls a ‘bonus.’ He of course retained the copyright.

Besides allowing John Ballantyne this ‘bonus,’ Scott had offered in 1819 to write biographical prefaces for a ‘Novelist's Library,’ to be published for his sole benefit. Scott fulfilled this promise by several lives profixed to an edition of the ‘Novelist's,’ the first volume of which appeared in February 1821. Ten volumes were published, but the scheme dropped after Ballantyne's death in June 1821. Ballantyne left 2,000l. to his benefactor, but had unfortunately only debts to bequeath. In the following November Constable agreed to pay five thousand guineas for the copyright of the four novels (‘Kenilworth’ being the last) published since those bought in 1819. In June 1823 Constable bought the copyright of the next four published (including ‘Quentin Durward,’ then just appearing) for an equal sum. Besides this, he had advanced 11,000l. on still unfinished works. Constable also gave 1,000l. for the dramatic sketch called ‘Halidon Hill’ (published in June 1822), which Scott wrote in two rainy mornings at Abbotsford. This ‘wild bargain,’ as Lockhart calls it, was made by Constable's partner, Cadell, ‘in five minutes,’ to the satisfaction of both partners (, ch. lv., and, iii. 216). Constable suggested that Scott might turn out such a work every three months. Both writer and publisher seem to have regarded Scott's genius as a perpetual and inexhaustible spring. Scott held that his best writing was that which came most easily, and was ready to undertake any amount of work suggested. In March 1822 he says that Constable has ‘saddled him with fortune,’ and made twelve volumes grow where there might only have been one. He admits that he is building ‘a little expensively,’ but he has provided for his family, and no one could be indifferent to the solid comfort of 8,000l. a year, especially if he ‘buys land, builds, and improves’ (, iii. 207). In 1818 Lockhart says that Scott's income from his novels had been for several years not less than 10,000l. His expenses required steady supplies, and, as the advances involved an extension of credit, the publishers were naturally eager for new work which would bring in ready money. In 1823 the liabilities incurred began to be serious, and the novels were selling less freely. Constable and his partner, Cadell, were afraid of damping Scott, and yet began to see that the supply was outrunning the demand, and even exhausting Scott's powers. Cadell reports in June 1823 that Scott was alarmed by the comparative failure of ‘Quentin Durward,’ while Ballantyne had to meet engagements in July (, iii. 271). Cadell told Scott that he ‘must not be beaten or appear to be beaten.’ He must go on with the novel in hand, but interpolate other work, such as a proposed volume on ‘Popular Superstitions.’ Constable meanwhile had fresh projects. He proposed a collection of English poets. He would give Scott 6,000l. for editing it and writing prefaces ‘as an occasional relief from more important labours.’ He then (February 1822) proposed an edition of Shakespeare (by Scott and Lockhart), of which, it is said, three volumes were actually printed, but sold as waste paper after the crash of 1826 (see, iii. 241, and Lockhart, i. 308, 396. In ‘Notes and Queries,’ 5th ser. i. 343, it is said that some sheets are in existence in America). In 1823 Constable had become alarmed at the transactions between his house and Ballantyne's, and proposed to Scott measures for reducing the ‘floating balance’ (, iii. 275–86). Scott fully agreed, and said that he looked forward to such an arrangement ‘without the least doubt or shadow of anxiety.’ Constable's son David states that by his desire an accountant was called in to make a plain statement of the accounts, but that his investigations were stopped by Scott. Scott, it is plain, was not seriously alarmed, and Constable was still sanguine, and before long was contemplating another great undertaking enthusiastically. In May 1825 he expounded to Scott his scheme for the ‘Miscellany.’ This series, intended to create a popular demand for standard literature, was to start with a reprint of ‘Waverley’ (, iii. 307, 314), which was to be followed by a ‘life’ of Napoleon, to be written by Scott. Scott took up the ‘life’ at once, which speedily expanded under his hands until it became too large for publication in the ‘Miscellany.’ Lockhart was painfully impressed by the obvious effort which the drudgery of consulting authorities imposed upon Scott.