By 1829 Scott and Cadell had been enabled to obtain possession of all the principal copyrights, with the exception of two one-fourth shares of “Marmion,” held by Murray and Longman respectively.  Sir Walter Scott applied to Murray through Lockhart, respecting this fourth share.  The following was Murray’s reply to Sir Walter Scott: 

John Murray to Sir Walter Scott.

June 8, 1829.

My Dear Sir,

Mr. Lockhart has at this moment communicated to me your letter respecting my fourth share of the copyright of “Marmion.”  I have already been applied to by Messrs. Constable and by Messrs. Longman, to know what sum I would sell this share for; but so highly do I estimate the honour of being, even in so small a degree, the publisher of the author of the poem, that no pecuniary consideration whatever can induce me to part with it.  But there is a consideration of another kind, which, until now, I was not aware of, which would make it painful to me if I were to retain it a moment longer.  I mean, the knowledge of its being required by the author, into whose hands it was spontaneously resigned in the same instant that I read his request.  This share has been profitable to me fifty-fold beyond what either publisher or author could have anticipated; and, therefore, my returning it on such an occasion, you will, I trust, do me the favour to consider in no other light than as a mere act of grateful acknowledgment for benefits already received by, my dear sir,

Your obliged and faithful Servant,

JOHN MURRAY.

P.S.—­It will be proper for your man of business to prepare a regular deed to carry this into effect, which I will sign with the greatest self-satisfaction, as soon as I receive it.

Sir W. Scott to John Murray.

EDINBURGH, June 12, 1829.

My Dear Sir,

Nothing can be more obliging or gratifying to me than the very kind manner in which you have resigned to me the share you held in “Marmion,” which, as I am circumstanced, is a favour of real value and most handsomely rendered.  I hope an opportunity may occur in which I may more effectually express my sense of the obligation than by mere words.  I will send the document of transference when it can be made out.  In the meantime I am, with sincere regard and thanks,

Your most obedient and obliged Servant,

WALTER SCOTT.

At the end of August 1829 Lockhart was again at Abbotsford; and sending the slips of Sir Walter’s new article for the next Quarterly.  He had already written for No. 77 the article on “Hajji Baba,” and for No. 81 an article on the “Ancient History of Scotland.”  The slips for the new article were to be a continuation of the last, in a review of Tytler’s “History of Scotland.”  The only other articles he wrote for the Quarterly were his review of Southey’s “Life of John Bunyan,” No. 86, in October 1830; and his review—­the very last—­of Pitcairn’s “Criminal Trials of Scotland,” No. 88, in February 1831.