“I had a letter from Jem Ballantyne—plague on him!—full of remonstrance, deep and solemn, upon the carelessness of ‘Bonaparte.’ _The rogue is right, too._ But as to correcting my style to the ‘Jemmy jemmy linkum feedle’ tune of what is called fine writing, I’ll be d——d if I do.” Scott also at this time superintended the first collection of his Prose Miscellanies, published in six vols. 8vo, several articles being remodelled and extended to adapt them for a more permanent existence than had been originally thought of. The First Series of “Chronicles of the Canongate” was published in November 1827, but the work did not meet with the favour awarded to his previous writings, and Sir Walter was much discouraged. Yet the wondrous power and fertility of his genius remained undiminished, and the First Series of “Tales of a Grandfather” followed in December. It met with a heartier reception than any other of his works since “Ivanhoe,” and years only add to its popularity. The “Chronicles of the Canongate,” Second Series, three vols. 8vo, and “Tales of a Grandfather,” Second Series, three vols. 18mo, were both published in 1828. In this year was also published “Religious Discourses by a Layman,” being signed by “W.S.” These were originally written by Sir Walter Scott to aid a young candidate for the ministry in the Kirk of Scotland. “The Fair Maid of Perth” was finished in March, and published in April of the same year. “Anne of Geierstein” appeared about the middle of May 1829. The Third Series of “Tales of a Grandfather” appeared this year; and Scott’s remaining labours were: In 1829—“History of Scotland,” Vol. I.; Waverley Novels, Vols I. to VIII., with new Introductions and Notes (monthly). In 1830—“Doom of Devorgoil” and “Auchindrane”; “Essays on Ballad Poetry”; “Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft”; “Tales of a Grandfather,” Fourth Series; “History of Scotland,” Vol. II. In 1831—“Count Robert of Paris” and “Tales of My Landlord,” Fourth Series. When the publishing of the Waverley Novels passed into the hands of Cadell, about 1825-26, and the issue of the author’s own edition commenced in 1829—this being playfully distinguished by Scott himself as “the _Magnum_”—the sale again proved large. The legends, family traditions, and historical facts which formed the groundwork of the novels were now added by the author himself, and attracted anew the public attention. Cadell began this edition with 7000, raised the estimate to 10,000, and then to 12,000, while the ultimate circulation rose to about 35,000 a month—a figure then unprecedented. This, it should be remembered, was probably done on the hand-press, as the printing-machine was making slow headway, and must have greatly taxed the resources of the printing-house. The publication arrangements of the novels and other works mentioned in this chapter were variously and sometimes jointly made by Constable, Blackwood, Longman, Murray, John Ballantyne, and latterly by Cadell.