Since that time many editions of Scott’s Poetical and Prose Works have passed through the Ballantyne Press. One of the most important is the Border Edition of the Waverley Novels in forty-eight volumes, edited with additional Introductions and Notes by Mr. Andrew Lang, illustrated with many etchings, and published by John C. Nimmo, London. This edition has now passed into the hands of Messrs. Macmillan & Co. CHAPTER VII THE “GREAT UNKNOWN” The Waverley Novels long continued to be spoken of as the works of the “Great Unknown,”—the titles of the successive novels simply showing that they were by the “Author of ‘Waverley.’” The designation was first conferred upon Scott by James Ballantyne. It was never publicly discarded until the Theatrical Fund dinner on February 23, 1827, when the author, in reply to the toast of his health, in which the secret was divulged,[28] uttered these memorable words: “I certainly did not think, in coming here to-day, that I should have the task of acknowledging, before three hundred gentlemen, a secret which, considering it was communicated to more than twenty people, has been remarkably well kept.... I am willing, however, to plead _guilty_—nor shall I detain the Court by a long explanation why my confession has been so long deferred. Perhaps caprice might have a considerable share in the matter. I have now to say, however, that the merits of these works, if they had any, and their faults, are all imputable to myself.” [Illustration: THE “GREAT UNKNOWN” _By permission of_ CHARLES E. S. CHAMBERS, Esq.] During much of this period of secrecy James Ballantyne had the almost exclusive task of corresponding with the author, who had thus the advantage not only of his professional talents, but also of his critical abilities; and it is admitted that the works of his friend and patron are indebted to him for many judicious emendations, as Scott’s inattention to not unimportant details rendered such assistance necessary. In early life Scott wrote a legible hand, though being— “A clerk foredoomed his father’s soul to cross, Who pens a stanza when he should engross,” his verses displayed more character than his chirography. In regard to this Mr. Andrew Lang, in his Introduction to the Border Edition of “Waverley,” says: “About Shakespeare it was said that he ‘never blotted a line.’ The observation is almost literally true about Sir Walter. The pages of his manuscript novels show scarcely a retouch or erasure, whether in the ‘Waverley’ fragment of 1805 or the unpublished ‘Siege of Malta’ of 1832. The handwriting becomes closer and smaller; from thirty-eight lines to the page in ‘Waverley,’ he advances to between fifty and sixty in ‘Ivanhoe.’ The few alterations are usually additions.”