Before his departure for Brighton, Mr. Lockhart had been commissioned by Murray to offer Sir Walter Scott L1,250 for the copyright of his “History of Scotland,” a transaction concerning which some informal communications had already passed.

Mr. Lockhart to John Murray.

MY DEAR SIR,

Sir W. Scott has already agreed to furnish Dr. Lardner’s “Cyclopaedia” with one vol.—­“History of Scotland”—­for L1,000, and he is now at this work.  This is grievous, but you must not blame me, for he has acted in the full knowledge of my connection with and anxiety about the Family Library.  I answered him, expressing my great regret and reminding him of Peterborough.  I suppose, as I never mentioned, nor well could, money, that Dr. Lardner’s matter appeared more a piece of business.  Perhaps you may think of something to be done.  It is a great loss to us and gain to them.

Yours truly,

J.G.L.

After the failure of Ballantyne and Constable, Cadell, who had in former years been a partner in Constable’s house, became Scott’s publisher, and at the close of 1827 the principal copyrights of Scott’s works, including the novels from “Waverley” to “Quentin Durward,” and most of the poems, were put up to auction, and purchased by Cadell and Scott jointly for L8,500.  At this time the “Tales of a Grandfather” were appearing by instalments, and Murray wrote to the author, begging to be allowed to become the London publisher of this work.  Scott replied: 

Sir W. Scott to John Murray.

6, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh,

November 26, 1828.

My Dear Sir,

I was favoured with your note some time since, but could not answer it at the moment till I knew whether I was like to publish at Edinburgh or not.  The motives for doing so are very strong, for I need not tell you that in literary affairs a frequent and ready communication with the bookseller is a very necessary thing.

As we have settled, with advice of those who have given me their assistance in extricating my affairs, to publish in Edinburgh, I do not feel myself at liberty to dictate to Cadell any particular selection of a London publisher.  If I did so, I should be certainly involved in any discussions or differences which might occur between my London and Edinburgh friends, which would be adding an additional degree of perplexity to my affairs.  I feel and know the value of your name as a publisher, but if we should at any time have the pleasure of being connected with you in that way, it must be when it is entirely on your own account.  The little history designed for Johnnie Lockhart was long since promised to Cadell.

I do not, in my conscience, think that I deprive you of anything of consequence in not being at present connected with you in literary business.  My reputation with the world is something like a high-pressure engine, which does very well while all lasts stout and tight, but is subject to sudden explosion, and I would rather that another than an old friend stood the risk of suffering by the splinters.