The interest taken in the growing success of the mysterious “Waverley” was greatly heightened, and the curious public were somewhat bewildered, by the simultaneous announcement with the publication of “The Lord of the Isles” of another prose work of fiction by the A. of W——, nearly ready for issue. This work, “Guy Mannering”—the result of six weeks’ labour of the Christmas recess—appeared on the 24th February 1815, and was pronounced by universal consent to be worthy of its author. The first edition, consisting of 2000 copies, was sold out the day after publication, and within three months second and third editions, amounting to 5000 copies, were also disposed of; and before 1837 the total sale reckoned up to 50,000. The poem of “The Field of Waterloo” was issued in October 1815, the profits of the first edition being Scott’s contribution to the fund raised for the widows and orphans of the soldiers slain in the battle. Lockhart’s “Life” (v. 99-104) contains a list, much too lengthy to reproduce here, of the Ballantynes’ suggestions on this poem, with Scott’s objections and admissions. One or two instances of those by James may, however, be given:— “Stanza I.—‘Fair Brussels, thou art far behind.’ _James Ballantyne._—I do not like this line. It is tame, and the phrase _far behind_ has, to my feeling, some associated vulgarity. _Scott._—Stet. Stanza VIII.—‘Nor ceased the _intermitted_ shot.’ _James._—Mr. Erskine contends that _intermitted_ is redundant. _Scott._—‘Nor ceased the _storm of shell and shot_.’ Stanza XII.—‘Nor was one forward footstep _stopped_.’ _James._—This staggering word was intended, I presume, but I don’t like it. _Scott._—Granted. Read _staid_, &c. Stanza XV.—‘Wrung forth by pride, _regret_, and shame.’ _James._—I have ventured to submit to your choice— ‘Wrung forth by pride, _and rage_, and shame.’ _Regret_ appearing a faint epithet amidst such a combination of bitter feelings. _Scott._—Granted. Stanza XXI.—‘Through his friend’s heart to _wound_ his own.’ _James._—Quære—_Pierce_, or rather _stab_—_wound_ is faint. _Scott._—_Pierce._” Constable (iii. 84) says regarding this revision: “No better evidence of Scott’s constitutional good nature could be given than will be found in the strictures on this poem by James and John Ballantyne when it was passing through the press, and the genial manner in which he either agrees or declines to give effect to them.” And Mr. Andrew Lang in his “Life of Scott”[26] testifies: “The emendations made by John Ballantyne on the proof-sheets of this effort show considerable intelligence and taste, and in several cases were approved of and accepted by the author, though he once said that he was ‘The Black Brunswicker of literature, who neither took nor gave criticism.’”