REFUTATION OF MR. LOCKHART'S CHARGES AGAINST MR. JAMES BALLANTYNE IN

HIS LIFE OF SCOTT.

THIS is a pamphlet of 88 pages, by the Son and the Trustees of' the late Mr. JAMES BALLANTYNE — the schoolfellow, printer, partner, manuscript-reviser, and till the last few years of their re- spective lives the friend, of Sir WALTER SCOTT. The object is to refute what its authors call " the misstatements and calumnies " contained in Mr. LOCKHART'S Life of SCOTT respecting Mr. JAMES BALLANTYNE.

It is needless to tell any one who has read even parts of the Life, that the brothers BALLANTYNE are mentioned throughout in a caustic, depreciatory', contemptuous spirit, not so much redeemed as "damned" with "faint praise." JOHN is drawn as a harum- scarum fellow, wild in business, personally extravagant, and irre- gular in morals, with a variety of' vanities which not even his convivial qualities could rescue from the character of silliness and absurdity. Whilst the moral and domestic character of JAMES BALLANTYNE is allowed to stand higher, he is represented as a pumpuus, vainglorious, self-conceited person, indolent by temperament, and addicted to the pleasures of the table. To his intimate connexion with these brothers, the ruin of SCOTT is mainly attributed, both in general charges of bad management and concealment of the actual state of affairs, and in more specific accusations. To those who are unacquainted with the originals, the impression left by the expressive epithets and dramatic sketches of LOCKHART, do not admit of any direct confutation. Nor, perhaps, can the effect be altogether removed even by proof's of his inaccuracy on other points, or by that distasteful feeling which must have arisen in every right-minded person who saw that the cynic was indebted to the hospitality of the BA LLANTYSES for the means of ridiculing them, and that he " blackened those with whom he sat at meat," not merely as a companion but a guest. The general charges of bad or perhaps loose* manage- ment, and concealment of the state of affairs, are hardly confuted as respects JOHN BALLANTYNE ; for friendly expressions from ScoTT in a letter to JOHNNY, can scarcely be considered evi- dence of the writer's real opinion, much less of the real facts. As regards JAMES BALLANTYNE, the pamphlet, though tinged, as might be expected, by a strong spirit of advocacy, and of personal soreness, very effectively accomplishes its purpose. It disproves the statements of LOCKHART by the production of counter-evidence, leaving the biographer in no very enviable plight ; whilst by drawing to a focus the points, which in the bio- graphy are scattered through several volumes, as well as throwing some fresh light upon them, it shows SCOTT more rash and reck- less in his miserable object of founding a family estate, and more selfish in his pursuit of it, than he appeared even in his son-in- law's narrative.

The main charges to which the Trustees and the Son of Mr. BALLANTYNE apply themselves, are three-1. A general one, of the injury resulting from the connexion, and of deceit or suppres- sion of the real state of affairs on the part of the BALLANTYNES. 2. That Scow never drew money from the printing business. 3. That a large mass of " counter-bills " (or bills accepted by BAL- LANTYNE and Co., and deposited with CONSTABLE as a security in case the accommodation paper lie was accepting should not be taken up) were not punctually withdrawn ; and that CONSTABLE, in his hour of distress, threw them into circulation, thus swelling the claims against SCOTT. Let us take these seriatim.

1. The two adventures in which SCOTT was connected with the BALLANTYNES, were the printing business, for above twenty years, and a bookselling speculation begun about 1808 on a quarrel with CONSTABLE. Without entering into the details of this latter concern, it will be enough to say, that Mr. LOCKHART admits that the gross imprudence of SCOTT, in the books lie would, publish involved the concern in difficulties. In 1812-13, it was found necessary to close the business, and SCOTT under- took to wind it up : but, eventually, all debts were paid, and a surplus left of a thousand pounds. The printing trade is considered under the next head; but, in reply to the statement that SCOTT was ignorant, or kept in ignorance of the affairs, the pamphlet asserts, that every month a consultation was held with him as to the mode of meeting the bills coming due, and that he entered every bill in a book lie kept for the purpose.

2. The printing business is stated, and apparently on just grounds, to have been a very profitable concern. The assertion that SCOTT, although a partner, drew no money from it, is admitted as regards the letter ; its spirit is shown to be untrue. During the whole time of the connexion, JAMES BALLANTYNE only drew out the current expenses of himself and his family : at the grand crash, JAMES as a printer did not owe 10001., as an individual not 1001.; but bills under the name of JAMES BALLANTYNE and

• The pamphlet talks in a somewhat lofty strain ; but, strictly considered, J

we do not know that LOCKHART'S charge against OHN amounts to much more than a rash negligence, which undesignedly produced fatal results, and a suppression of that state of ;Hairs which his conduct had induced. Company were in circulation to the amount of 46,564/., esistnew and continued for the sole accommodation of Sir WALTER Se in his purchases of and improvements at Abbotsford, and tb't various profuse expenses in which he indulged. As this emu, is not only a curiosity in its way, but affords a strong exatspie the effects of accommodation-bills, we will quote a part of it, "1. In 1822, a new arrangement being made, the accounts were submitted to an accountant; who found that the bills then current and to be provided for by Sir W. Scott amounted to

"2. At the time of the bankruptcy, the bills to be provided for by Sir Walter Scott had increased from 26,896/. 5s. Ild. to 46,564/. 10s. 54., composed as under : James Ballantyne and Co.'s acceptances to Constable and Co. on account of Sir Walter £29,62417 3 Sir Walter's acceptances to James Ballan- tyne and Co., also for his own behoof 16,272 19 10 James Ballantyne and Co.'s acceptance to Hurst, Robinson, and Cu., for ditto 666 13 4

s,

26,896 511

Total amount of Sir Walter's proper liabilities

46,564 10 5

Increase since December 1822 £19,668 4 6 "3. This increase is more than accounted for when we take into consideration the large sum paid in shape of discounts ;

which amounted to 5,876 0 8 Sum paid as exchange on remittances to London, to retire 28411_...5, 107 01 .

(artglice ,, take up ") bills due there, per account No. II, 901 3 111 4 Sinn paid fur bill stamps, for Sir Walter's accommodation-

bills, per ditto 4 Interest on advances by bankers, per ditto Commission and postages to London bankers, per ditto Total expense of discounts, stamps, tee 8,085 3 1

.Add excess of payments, for M r Sir alter, neer some re-

ceived from Ides, as per account No. III 17,142 1810

Giving a total of .£25 ,228 1 II"

The growth of this, beyond the expenses of kite-lying, is further explained in a commentary.

" Whenever Sir Walter was in want of money for any purpose, ordintyst extraordinary, a new note was asked for and obtained. It a builder received* bill for work done at Abbotsford, it was generally made payable by a note so James Ballantyne and Co. ; or if a remittance was necessary to buy Sir Wake, eldest son a step in his regiment, James Ballantyne and Co. were called spot to assist in the same form. Thus, the sum whirl, in December 1822 was only 26,8961. as. 11d. had at the time of the bankruptcy in 1826 been increased, by stamps, discounts, and bank exchange, by 8,085/. Ss. Id. ; and by promissory notes granted to Sir Walter Scott by James Ballautyne and Co. for the odic purposes enumerated, by the sum of 17,1421. 18s. 10d. It is so far from being

true, therefore, as Mr. Lockhart affirms, that Sir Walter Scott never drew sty thing from the business, that there is the most conclusive evidence to show, that, excepting the means necessary to carry it on, and Mr. James Ballampis personal and family expenses, he drew from it all its earnings, and more the all. Mr. James Ballantyne's whole share of the profits, deducting the expense of his family, was floating in the business at the command of Sir Walter Scott, besides the profit accruing to him from his one-sixth share of all the new rim,

after the death of his brother John. He had cast his bread upon the oaten, but it did not return to him thee many days of labour and sorrow. He log all, and was, besides, stripped of every thing he possessed except his household fon nitute. Not a wreck was saved ; not even his house, which had been bought with his wife's fortune, and which, in the fulness of his confidence, he W not taken any means to secure to her and her children."

Besides this advantage (an equivocal one, certainly, as it tumid

out) to SCOTT, the printing business and BALLANTYNE'S personal property contributed nearly 10,0001. to Scorr's creditors, indepes dent of James's sixth share of the novels. So far, therefore, from BALLANTYNE ruining SCOTT, SCOTT ruined BALLANTYNE; all be- yond his current expenses being swallowed up by ScoTT's Bordtt projects. It is a stain upon his candour, that he never acquainled the man over whose head these heavy responsibilities were bang- ing, that he had settled' Abbotsfurd on his son and daughter-in- law. JAMES BALLANTYNE, it is Said, when troubled by the amount of the liabilities of the firm, always clung to the security of the estate. At the some time, it must not be forgotten that much of the printing business was created by SCOTT. BALLAN• TINE, indeed, might have reared as profitable and a much safer connexion by his own abilities; but " What had been, is unknown ; what is, appears."

3. The third statement, about the counter-bills, is strongly de

nied. But though the word of the authors of the pamphlet Ism doubt equal to Mr. Locarti ART'S, and their business knowledge so' perior, the evidence is not so convincing. The Trustees assert that the counter-bills were in reality corresponding " accommodations' to CONSTABLE, who regularly sent them into the market; and an account of one set of these affairs is produced: but the account of one transaction does not disprove the existence of another, thought its probability is certainly shaken. They argue, that were the statement true, the majority of the bills must have been useless, as being long overdue : which would no doubt be truer./ they were dated; but it is not uncommon, at least it is not unpre- cedented, for persons " flying kites " after the fashion of Scoff, CONSTABLE, and Co., to give even blank acceptances. 117, n1,) Upon the whole, however, LOCKHART'S account (Vol. VI. p is general, not very probable, and suspicious from not naming the amount of these alleged bills ; whilst he uses, as an illustra- tion of his meaning, sums which might leave false impressionsou the mind of ignorant readers. There are other minor points; the most specific of which we also notice seriatim. Mr. LOCKHART'S account of the early life of Jones Bee- wawa is stated to be incorrect in fact, and part of it chronolo- gically impossible.

2. It is insinuated that the biographer has made use of a docu- ment, his right to which is more than questionable.

john Ballantyne, in his Memorandum—which Mr. Lockhart quotes, but joss not condescend to inform us how or by what means it chanced to come into his hands, &c. wo When the papers of Mr. John Ballantyne were, after his death, examined by his executors, there was found amongst them a sealed packet, superscribed, Open not. read not,' and which was taken charge of by Sir Walter Scott. Qiorre—Ni'as the Memorandum above referred to among the contents of this

packet?"

3. A letter was written to Mr. CADELL, by Mr. HUGHES, one of the Trustees, before the publication of the sixth volume, point- ing out its business misstatements, and requesting that the con- tents of the letter should be brought under the notice of Mr. LOCKHART: which was no doubt done, but no notice was taken of the communication. 4. It is intimated that Mr. LOCKHART WRS, or professed to be, on those terms with JAMES BALLANTVNE which should have re- strained him from dealing with his memory in the manner he did. And two letters from LOCKHART, soliciting aid from BALL AN- TyNE, then on his deathbed, are quoted, as partly sustaining the charge.. They certainly exhibit either great "duplicity " or a very philosophical discrimination between a personal and a public esti- mate of things : setting aside all evidence, their tone is very much at variance with that in which BALLANTYNE is at any time men- tioned in the Life. The opening passage in the first, appears to allude to some remarks of BALLANTYNE on the coolness between him and Score, which he was apprehensive might have been shared by others. The Italics are, we presume, by the publishers. London, November 1, 1832. "My dear Sir-11 any feel:eg had really exited of the nature which your letter begins with mew, that mmt touching, most manly letter, would hare been a thousand linos s wore than enouyh to do array with it fin. erer. I ran, however, speak fur myself, that, though I did observe a certain difference in your relations with your dear friend Sir Walter, Isere,- eren fur one mo. cent dreamed that any thing had nererred to disturb the old, genial feelings which had through your lives been elpr,lly marked in both of von as friends. For two years before his death, Sir Walter Scott was no longer. in all respects, the man of his earlier days ; and I can perfectly understand, that his political impressions should have been conveyed within that period in a style which would not before have been possible for bent. Let us draw a veil over the infirmities of those few sad ar.11 weary months, and now endeavour to think of him only as he was who you and I so often shared together the delights of his friendship and conversation. 0 Your, emoranda of him will be expected by me as among the most pre- cious materials for his Mogruphy, You knew the man front a buy; and his literary life may be said to have been all its your presence, even front the work- ing of its smallest springs. I earnestly hope your health may soon be entirely reestablished ; and 1 ant joined in this wish by all the members of my wife's family, (they are all at this moment here,) as well as in the expression of sin- cere regret that you should have had the pain of writing such a letter at such a

time. Believe me truly and cordially yours, (Signed) "J. G. LOCKHART. "James Ballantyne, Esq., Printer, Edinburgh."

Mr. Lockhart, having received the Memoranda alluded to, again writes to Mr. Ballantyne in the same " cordial " and affectionate manner- " London, December 6, 1S31 "My dear Sir—I have received your packet, and read with infinite interest its precious contents. Your outline of your intercourse with Sir Walter Scott is quite sufficient to keep me right as to some, most indeed, of the literary epochs of his life. The anecdotes interwoven and appended are even more valuable. Perhaps what you say as to his early felt superiority over all that came into contact with his judgment, temper, and intellectual resources gene- rally, will be to posterity a most satisfactory piece of evidence how true that in him the boy was father to the man. I feel as if I had known him iu the days of Kelso, and the Tavern Club, and the Stage-coach Journey.

"I pray you continue 10 draw on your memory for more and more of these invaluable details. And may your health, for this and a thousand other good works to follow, be strengthened and restored.

" Ever yours most sincerely,

(Signed) " J. G. Lootirma.

"To James Ballantyne, Esq., Printer, Edinburgh."

The pamphlet is printed in a type and style exactly correspond- ing with the typography of the Life; with which it ought to be bound up.