Memoir of John Murray
Walter Scott to John Murray, 27 March 1809
Edinburgh, March 27th, 1809.
I have only time to give a very short answer to your letter.
Some very important business detains me here till Monday or Tuesday, on the
last of which days at farthest I will set off for town, and will be with you of
course at the end of the week. As to my travelling expenses, if Government pay
me, good and well; if they do not, depend on it I will never take a farthing
from you. You have, my good friend, enough of expense to incur in forwarding
this great and dubious undertaking, and God forbid I should add so
| MR. ELLIS’S CRITICISM OF No. I. | 151 |
unreasonable a
charge as your liberality points at. I am very frank in money matters, and
always take my price when I think I can give money’s worth for money, but
this is quite extravagant, and you must think no more of it. Should I want
money for any purpose I will readily make you my banker and give you value in
reviews. John Ballantyne’s last
remittance continues to go off briskly; the devil’s in you in London, you
don’t know good writing when you get it. All depends on our cutting in
before the next Edinburgh, when instead of following their lead they shall
follow ours.
Mrs. Scott is my fellow-traveller in virtue
of an old promise.
I am, dear Sir, yours truly,
April 4th, at night. I have been detained a day later than
I intended, but set off to-morrow at mid-day. I believe I shall get
franked, so will have my generosity for nothing. I hope to be in London on
Monday.
John Ballantyne (1774-1821)
Edinburgh publisher and literary agent for Walter Scott; he was the younger brother of
the printer James Ballantyne.