Immediately on the conclusion of “St. Ronan’s Well,” Sir Walter began “Redgauntlet,” which was published in June 1824. It was originally called “Herries,” until Constable and James Ballantyne persuaded the author to choose the more striking name. This fascinating work contains more of the author’s personal experiences than any of his previous fictions, or even than all of them put together,—not to mention the incomparable legend of “Wandering Willie’s Tale.” It was the only novel Scott produced during this year, but he was abundantly occupied in preparing for press the second edition of his voluminous Swift, the additions and corrections to which were numerous and careful. Towards the end of the year the “Tales of the Crusaders” were begun, and were issued in June 1825. “The Betrothed” found little favour with James Ballantyne, and his remonstrance weighed so much with the author that he resolved to cancel it altogether. Meanwhile, spurred by disappointment, he began another story, “The Talisman.” The brightness of this new tale dazzled the eyes of the public; and the burst of favour which attended the brilliant procession of Saladin and Cœur-de-Lion considerably modified Scott’s literary plans, and “The Betrothed” was issued under its wing. “The Letters of Malachi Malagrowther,” written against the Government proposal to interfere with the Scottish banking system,[27] appeared on the 1st of March 1826; and on the day following Scott writes: “The First Epistle of Malachi already out of print.” These Letters—of which there were three—first appeared in Ballantyne’s _Edinburgh Weekly Journal_, and were afterwards collected into a pamphlet and published by Blackwood. This ran into numerous editions, the Scottish banks taking hundreds of copies for gratuitous circulation. It was often referred to in subsequent discussions in Parliament, and is believed to have had considerable influence in causing the abandonment of the measure. A fourth Letter was written in December 1830, but, in deference to the opinions of James Ballantyne and Cadell the publisher, the essay, though put in type, was never issued, and manuscript and proof were finally consigned to the flames. “Woodstock,” written during a period of great commercial distress, was finished in April and issued in June 1826. This most successful novel realised the large sum of £8228. The “Life of Bonaparte,” which had been in progress during two years of deep affliction, was published in June 1827. Its contents are equal to thirteen volumes of the Waverley Novels in their original form. The first and second editions produced the enormous sum of £18,000. Regarding the “Life of Bonaparte” there is a characteristic entry in Scott’s “Journal,” dated September 6, 1826, referring to some suggestions of James Ballantyne:—