Memoir of John Murray
William Blackwood to John Murray, 12 April 1816
Some time ago I wrote to you that James Ballantyne had dined with me, and from
what then passed I expected that I would soon have something very important to
communicate. He has now fully explained himself to me, with liberty to inform
you of anything he has communicated. This, however, he entreats of us to keep
most strictly to ourselves, trusting to our honour that we will not breathe a
syllable of it to the dearest friends we have.
He began by telling me that he thought he had it now in his
power to show me how sensible he was of the services I had done him, and how
anxious he was to ![]()
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accomplish that union of interests which
I had so long been endeavouring to bring about. Till now he had only made
professions; now he would act. He said that he was empowered to offer me, along
with you, a work of fiction in four volumes, such as Waverley, &c.; that he had read a
considerable part of it; and, knowing the plan of the whole, he could answer
for its being a production of the very first class; but that he was not at
liberty to mention its title, nor was he at liberty to give the author’s
name. I naturally asked him, was it by the author of ‘Waverley’? He said it was to have no reference to any other
work whatever, and every one would be at liberty to form their own conjectures
as to the author. He only requested that, whatever we might suppose from
anything that might occur afterwards, we should keep strictly to ourselves that
we were to be the publishers. The terms he was empowered by the author to offer
for it were—
1. The author to receive one-half of the profits of each
edition; these profits to be ascertained by deducting the paper and printing
from the proceeds of the book sold at sale price; the publishers to be at the
whole of the expense of advertising. 2. The property of the book to be the
publishers’, who were to print such editions as they chose. 3. The only
condition upon which the author would agree to these terms is, that the
publisher should take £600 of John
Ballantyne’s stock, selected from the list annexed,
deducting 25 per cent, from the affixed sale prices. 4. If these terms are
agreed to, the stock to the above amount to be immediately delivered, and a
bill granted at twelve months. 5. That in the course of six or eight weeks,
J. B. expected to be able to put
into my hands the first two volumes printed, and that if on perusal we did not
like the bargain, we should be at liberty to give it up. This he considered to
be most unlikely; but if it should be the case, he would bind himself to repay
or redeliver the bill on the books being returned. 6. That the edition,
consisting of 2000 copies, should be printed and ready for delivery by the 1st
of October next.
I have thus stated to you as nearly as I can the substance
of what passed. I tried in various ways to learn something with regard to the
author; but he was quite impenetrable. My own impression now is, that it must
be Walter Scott, for no one else would think
of burdening us ![]()
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with such trash as John B.’s
wretched stock. This is such a burden, that I am puzzled not a little. I
endeavoured every way I could to get him to propose other terms, but he told me
they could not be departed from in a single part; and the other works had been
taken on the same conditions, and he knew they would be greedily accepted again
in the same quarter. Consider the matter seriously, and write to me as soon as
you can. After giving it my consideration, and making some calculations, I
confess I feel inclined to hazard the speculation; but still I feel doubtful
until I hear what you think of it. Do not let my opinion, which may be
erroneous, influence you, but judge for yourself. From the very strong terms in
which Jas. B. spoke of the work, I am sanguine enough to
expect it will equal if not surpass any of the others. I would not lay so much
stress upon what he says if I were not assured that his great interest, as well
as Mr. Scott’s, is to stand in the very best way
both with you and me. They are anxious to get out of the clutches of Constable, and Ballantyne is sensible of the favour I have done and may still
do him by giving so much employment, besides what he may expect from you. From
Constable he can expect nothing. I
had almost forgotten to mention that he assured me in the most solemn manner
that we had got the first offer, and he ardently hoped we would accept of it.
If, however, we did not, he trusted to our honour that we would say nothing of
it; that the author of this work would likely write more; and should we not
take this, we might have it in our power afterwards to do something with him,
provided we acted with delicacy in the transaction, as he had no doubt we would
do. I hope you will be able to write to me soon, and as fully as you can. If I
have time to-morrow, or I should rather say this day, as it is now near one
o’clock, I will write you about other matters; and if I have no letter
from you, will perhaps give you another scolding.
Yours most truly,
James Ballantyne (1772-1833)
Edinburgh printer in partnership with his younger brother John; the company failed in the
financial collapse of 1826.
John Ballantyne (1774-1821)
Edinburgh publisher and literary agent for Walter Scott; he was the younger brother of
the printer James Ballantyne.
William Blackwood (1776-1834)
Edinburgh bookseller; he began business 1804 and for a time was John Murray's Scottish
agent. He launched
Blackwood's Magazine in 1817.
Archibald Constable (1774-1827)
Edinburgh bookseller who published the
Edinburgh Review and works
of Sir Walter Scott; he went bankrupt in 1826.
John Murray II (1778-1843)
The second John Murray began the
Quarterly Review in 1809 and
published works by Scott, Byron, Austen, Crabbe, and other literary notables.
