“It is with feelings of sincere regret that we have to announce the death of our able and excellent contemporary and friend, Mr. James Ballantyne. His health for several months past has been very delicate, and he expired on Thursday at noon, rather unexpectedly by his friends, as he had fallen into a soft sleep in the morning, after a night of painful suffering from a vomiting of blood, with which he had of late been visited. “Mr. Ballantyne has been so long and honourably distinguished in his connection with the press of Scotland, in the highest acceptation of that expression, that we cannot forbear alluding slightly to the leading points of his life and character in that connection. He began his career by establishing the _Kelso Mail_ in his native town; and it was while he was thus engaged, that, in consequence of some suggestion from Mr. Hughes, then and long after in his employment, he made some successful attempts to improve the typography of Scotland. In these the success which attended his efforts was so conspicuous as to attract the notice of some distinguished individuals, and, amongst others, that of his illustrious friend, Sir Walter Scott; and a new era in Scottish typography, as well as of Scottish literature, was ushered in by the printing of the ‘Border Minstrelsy’ at the Border press. Mr. Ballantyne’s well-merited fame for elegance and accuracy as a printer soon extended in the marts of literature, and the encouragement which he received from the booksellers of London and Edinburgh induced him to remove to this city about the year 1802; and it is no disparagement to any of his brethren to state that, from the time that Mr. Ballantyne devoted himself to the pursuit, the art has been improved among us to the highest pitch, for nothing in typography can exceed the beauty and accuracy which have ever characterised the productions of the Ballantyne Press. These qualities are known to the whole world in the works of his illustrious friend, Sir Walter Scott, and they were the result at once of the most conscientious and scrupulous vigilance over his press, and of an exquisite taste and great intelligence which were applied to the works entrusted to his superintendence. The intimate connection which subsisted betwixt Sir Walter and Mr. Ballantyne from their schoolboy days—the confidential nature of that connection—and the unceasing kindness which was veiled only by the shadows which darken all human friendships in the grave, were such as to associate the name of Ballantyne with that of his much-loved and honoured countryman, and to invest it with consideration and honour. During the last fifteen or sixteen years Mr. Ballantyne has been the editor, and a proprietor of the _Edinburgh Weekly Journal_, which has been uniformly distinguished for its candour, sound constitutional principles, moderation, and independence. In private life Mr. Ballantyne was amiable and gentlemanly in his demeanour, accomplished, courteous,