18s. 6d. each copy, at a credit of ten months from delivery, with five per cent. discount for any earlier payment, of which the trustees approved. In consequence of advice from Sir Walter Scott and Longman & Co., it had been thought advisable to restrict the first edition of the Life of Napoleon to 6000, instead of 8000 copies, as originally intended." We may here state shortly, that the question of right to these works was ultimately decided in favour of Scott's trustees. In this year, 1826, Scott performed an invaluable service to his country by the successful resistance of his pen to a proposed measure of Government. This was Mr. Canning's project for abolishing the small-note currency of Scotland, and assimilating the monetary system to that of England. Violent opposition was of course offered to this proposal by the Scottish public, but as their opinions were viewed by the Legislature as emanating only from selfishness, there seemed little probability of their remonstrances being at all attended to. In this dilemma, Scott (being no doubt urged by feelings of gratitude towards those connected with the banks, as well as more patriotic motives,) stepped forward, and in three successive letters inserted in the Weekly Journal newspaper, (published by his friend Mr. Ballantyne,) he so thoroughly exposed the absurdity of the Parliamentary scheme, that notwithstanding the powerful support of Mr. Croker, and other financial writers, the Legislature at once dropped all further thoughts of proceeding with it. The letters had the sonorous and euphonic signature of "Malachi Malagrowther" attached to them, but contained so many palpable traits of Scott's peculiar humour, pathos, and sarcasm, that there was not a moment's doubt concerning their paternity. The author's own feelings, as we learn from a gentleman then connected with Mr. Ballantyne's establishment, were excited in an unusual degree on this occasion. Two days after the first letter had appeared, he was in the printing-house with his friend Mr. Ballantyne, when the latter remarked, that he had been more solicitous and careful about the proof of this little composition, than he had ever observed him to be respecting any of his productions. "Yes," said he, in a tone that electrified even this familiar friend, who had heard him speak before under all varieties of circumstances, " my former works were for myself, but this-this is for my country!" 18s. 6d. each copy, at a credit of ten months from delivery, with five per cent. discount for any earlier payment, of which the trustees approved. In consequence of advice from Sir Walter Scott and Longman & Co., it had been thought advisable to restrict the first edition of the Life of Napoleon to 6000, instead of 8000 copies, as originally intended." We may here state shortly, that the question of right to these works was ultimately decided in favour of Scott's trustees. In this year, 1826, Scott performed an invaluable service to his country by the successful resistance of his pen to a proposed measure of Government. This was Mr. Canning's project for abolishing the small-note currency of Scotland, and assimilating the monetary system to that of England. Violent opposition was of course offered to this proposal by the Scottish public, but as their opinions were viewed by the Legislature as emanating only from selfishness, there seemed little probability of their remonstrances being at all attended to. In this dilemma, Scott (being no doubt urged by feelings of gratitude towards those connected with the banks, as well as more patriotic motives,) stepped forward, and in three successive letters inserted in the Weekly Journal newspaper, (published by his friend Mr. Ballantyne,) he so thoroughly exposed the absurdity of the Parliamentary scheme, that notwithstanding the powerful support of Mr. Croker, and other financial writers, the Legislature at once dropped all further thoughts of proceeding with it. The letters had the sonorous and euphonic signature of "Malachi Malagrowther" attached to them, but contained so many palpable traits of Scott's peculiar humour, pathos, and sarcasm, that there was not a moment's doubt concerning their paternity. The author's own feelings, as we learn from a gentleman then connected with Mr. Ballantyne's establishment, were excited in an unusual degree on this occasion. Two days after the first letter had appeared, he was in the printing-house with his friend Mr. Ballantyne, when the latter remarked, that he had been more solicitous and careful about the proof of this little composition, than he had ever observed him to be respecting any of his productions. "Yes," said he, in a tone that electrified even this familiar friend, who had heard him speak before under all varieties of circumstances, “my former works were for myself, but this-this is for my country!" |