l8l7 LETTERS 1 {October 1817 continued) TO JOHN BALLANTYNE (5-1)DEAR JOHN,-I think you should answer Rees explaining (5-1)the principle in which we intend acting as to G. M. & (5-1)Wy 1 by dividing them into thirds & continuing the (5-1)management of each with the original house also giving (5-1)them the 3d. at discot. and that this will in all probability (5-1)be a final arrangement although the author retains full (5-1)power to alter it at pleasure. You may further hint that (5-1)probably as Agent both for the authors of these novels & (5-1)of the Tales you may chuse to have only one London (5-1)house engaged in these matters so that it may be subject of (5-1)consideration whether these shares of W[averle]y & G. M. (5-1)with that of the Antiqy. which must soon fall in will not (5-1)follow the fate of the Tales of my Landld. & depend on (5-1)their resolution respecting them. I am perfectly inflexible (5-1)on the subject of their pretended claim-indeed to yield (5-1)one hairs breadth would be to own I had been using them (5-1)ill which I am conscious is not the case. You must make (5-1)them aware of this gently in the manner but strongly in effect (5-1)and I think you may add with propriety that you will be (5-1)very sorry if a long correspondence in the [course ?] of (5-1)which great mutual advantages have accrued & more (5-1)may be expected in the course of events should be broken (5-1)off upon a case of misapprehension which is absolutely (5-1)incapable of being remedied. Indeed I do not see what (5-1)recourse they could have except to you for Damages for (5-1)they have no means to make the author adopt an arrangement (5-1)of which he disapproved from the instant he heard 2 LETTERS OF l8l7 (5-2)of it. But in fact they are giving in as appears from their (5-2)last civil letter. (5-2)I will accept for the 700,, so soon as James draws. (5-2)Dont forget to look over his things & to get bills for (5-2)W[averle]y and Guy. The former may be deliverd to (5-2)Constable directly so soon as the terms are understood (5-2)betwixt you & him one 3d. being reserved for Longmans (5-2)when they come to their stomach : the final destination (5-2)need not be settled till we hear from them. Observe in (5-2)writing to Longmans not to admit the identity of the (5-2)author of the Tales & of the novels but speak of them in (5-2)the plural number as twa folk. They know the contrary (5-2)of course but you need not admit anything. (5-2)I may have occasion to draw on you at a fortnight for (5-2)100,, from hence which can be paid out of the proceeds (5-2)of the bills. Yours ever W SCOTT (5-2)ABBOTSFORD 28 October [1817]. (5-2)I am glad you have settled with Southey & trust you (5-2)will do so with Lundie. This settles the whole affairs (5-2)of Jo: B & Co/ and mutual releases & discharges should (5-2)be executed at this term to put all at rights betwixt heirs (5-2)& successors. [Watson Collection] TO DANIEL TERRY (5-2)ABBOTSFORD, 29th October 1817 (5-2)MY DEAR TERRY,-I enclose a full sketch of the lower (5-2)story, with accurate measurements of rooms, casements, (5-2)door-ways, chimneys, &c., that Mr. Atkinson's good will (5-2)may not want means to work upon. I will speak to the (5-2)subjects of your letters separately, that I may omit none (5-2)of them. 1st, I cannot possibly surrender the window (5-2)to the west in the library,1 although I subscribe to all you SIR WALTER SCOTT 1817 3 (5-3)urge about it. Still it is essential in point of light to my (5-3)old eyes, and the single northern aspect would not serve (5-3)me. Above all, it looks into the yard, and enables me (5-3)to summon Tom Purdie without the intervention of a (5-3)third party. Indeed, as I can have but a few books (5-3)about me, it is of the less consequence. 2dly, I resign (5-3)the idea of cooing the library to your better judgment, (5-3)and I think the Stirling Heads 1 will be admirably disposed (5-3)in the glass of the armoury window. I have changed my (5-3)mind as to having doors on the book-presses, which is, (5-3)after all, a great bore. No person will be admitted into (5-3)my sanctum, and I can have the door locked during my (5-3)absence, 3dly, I expect Mr. Bullock here every day, and (5-3)should be glad to have the drawings for the dining-room (5-3)wainscot, as he could explain them to the artists who are (5-3)to work them. This (always if quite convenient) would (5-3)be the more desirable, as I must leave this place in a (5-3)fortnight at farthest-the more's the pity-and, consequently, (5-3)the risk of blunders will be considerably increased. (5-3)I should like if the pannelling of the wainscot (5-3)could admit of a press on each side of the sideboard. (5-3)I don't mean a formal press with a high door, but some (5-3)crypt, or, to speak vulgarly, cupboard, to put away bottles (5-3)of wine, &c. You know I am my own butler, and such (5-3)accommodation is very convenient. We begin roofing (5-3)to-morrow. Wilkie admires the whole as a composition, (5-3)and that is high authority. I agree that the fountain (5-3)shall be out of doors in front of the greenhouse ; there (5-3)may be an enclosure for it with some ornamented mason (5-3)work, as in old gardens, and it will occupy an angle, (5-3)which I should be puzzled what to do with, for turf and (5-3)gravel would be rather meagre, and flowers not easily 4 LETTERS OF 1817 (5-4)kept. I have the old fountain belonging to the Cross of (5-4)Edinburgh,1 which flowed with wine at the coronation (5-4)of our kings and on other occasions of public rejoicing. (5-4)I send a sketch of this venerable relic, connected as it is (5-4)with a thousand associations. It is handsome in its (5-4)forms and proportions-a freestone basin about three (5-4)feet in diameter, and five inches and a half in depth, very (5-4)handsomely hollowed. A piece has been broken off one (5-4)edge, but as we have the fragment, it can easily be (5-4)restored with cement. There are four openings for pipes (5-4)in the circumference-each had been covered with a (5-4)Gothic masque, now broken off and defaced, but which (5-4)may be easily restored. Through these the wine had (5-4)fallen into a larger and lower reservoir. I intend this (5-4)for the centre of my fountain. I do not believe I should (5-4)save 100 by retaining Mrs. Redford,2 by the time she (5-4)was raised, altered, and beautified, for, like the Highland- (5-4)man's gun, she wants stock, lock, and barrel, to put her (5-4)into repair. In the mean time, " the cabin is convenient." (5-4)Yours ever, (5-4)W. S. [Lockhart] SIR WALTER SCOTT 1817 5 TO WILLIAM BLACKWOOD [Extract] (5-5)[? October 1817] (5-5)MR. LAIDLAW projects a series of letters under the (5-5)signature of Maugraby. I shall certainly revise and (5-5)correct them, and if I should write any at length you will (5-5)understand that I reserve the right of printing such (5-5)myself, should I ever think it proper, which is highly (5-5)improbable. Respecting my name in this matter, you (5-5)will understand that I merely assist Mr. Laidlaw, and (5-5)you are quite at liberty to say that I do so. But as to my (5-5)fathering any particular portion of the correspondence, (5-5)you must hold me excused if I leave that matter to your (5-5)own sagacity of detection and that of the public. In (5-5)fact, were I obliged to take pains-and this I must if (5-5)I were to make myself responsible for what I write-my (5-5)contributions would be very few indeed. Besides I may, (5-5)for aught I know, give something or other to Mr. Pringle, (5-5)who would expect me to favour them also ; so I should (5-5)be like the poor fellow who was obliged to fly the country (5-5)in consequence of having rather too numerous an irregular (5-5)progeny. [WALTER SCOTT] [William Blackwood] TO JOHN BALLANTYNE 1 [Undated] (5-5)DEAR JOHN,-I have closed with Usher for his beautiful (5-5)patrimony, which makes me a great laird.