The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-29 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

REFUTATION OF THE MIS-STATEMENTS
AND CALUMNIES CONTAINED IN MR.
LOCK HART'S LIFE OF SIR WALTER
SCOTT, RESPECTIAG THE MESSRS. BAL-
LANTYNE.
London, Longman and Co., 1838.

•
In this pamphlet the Trustees and Son of the late Mr.
James Ballantyne have successfully exposed several gross
and unpardonable errors in Mr. Lockhart's Life of Sir
Walter Scott, as regards the personal and commercial
character of two of the " Author of Waverley's" ear-
liest and most attached friends—the Messrs. James and
John Ballantyne. Mr. Lockhart's fame as a respec-
ter of the feelings of the living or the memory of
the dead was at no period of his literary career
excessive—the epithet " good-natured" has never, we
believe, been applied to any of his strictures, whether
of a critical or a personal tendency ; and, therefore,
there may be many whom it may not surprise to learn that
he has dealt hardly end unkindly with the Messrs.
Ballantyne ; but we nevertheless are of opinion that there
are few, who, before reading this plain, simple, straight-
forward record of facts, could persuade themselves that the
son-in-law and biographer of Sir Walter Scott could misre-
present, as he is proved to have done, the character and
conduct of two excellent persons, who were the victims of
the aristocratical ambition of his illustrious relative. We
have neither space nor inclination to enter at any length
into all the details of the connection between Sir Walter
Scott and the Messrs. Bailantyne, though, in justice to the
memory of all parties—and feeling confident that Scott
himself, if alive, would resent as strongly as Mr. Ballan-
tyne's executors are disposed to do, any attempt to blacken
the reputation of his old and trusty friends—we shall quote
from the pages of the pamphlet, whose title is prefixed, suffi-
cient to put the merits of the question in a clear light be-
fore the public. We begin with the strictures upon Mr.
Lockhart's first introduction of the Ballantynes to the
readers of his biography of Sir Walter Scott :
" But, before entering into the discussion of the various
questions which arose out of the alliance of Sir Walter Scott
with Mr. James Ballantyne, it may be proper, by way of intro-
duction, to notice here the mode in which Mr. John Ballan-
tyne is introduced by Mr. Lockhart to his readers; more
especially as, by doing so, we shall at once convey to the
reader a pretty accurate notion of the whole tone and temper
of his bcok, and, at the same time, exemplify his negligence of
facts, when they come into competition with his habitual
straining after effect, at whatever sacrifice it may be obtained.
" After stating that John was a younger brother of James,
and had been originally bred to his father's trade of a mer-
chant' in Kelso, he continues—' But James's rise in the world
was not observed by him (John) without ambitious longings;
for he, too, had a love, and he at least fancied that he had a
talent, for literature. He left Kelso abruptly for the chances
of the English metropolis. After a short residence in Lon-
don, where, among other things, he officiated for a few months
as a clerk in a banking house, the continued intelligence of
the printer's prosperity determined him to return to Scotland.
Not finding any opening at the moment in Edinburgh, he
again tried the shop at Kelso; but his habits had not been im-
proved by his short sojourn in London, and the business soon
melted to nothing in his hands. His goods were disposed of
by auction for the benefit of his credikrs ; the paternal shop
was closed; and John again quitted his birthplace under cir-
cumstances which, I shall show in the sequel, had left a deep
and painful trace even upon that volatile mind." (Life, vol.
ii., p. 196.) In this sketch of John Ballantyne's early history
there is a laboured particularity, and seeming accuracy of spe-
cification, calculated to impose upon the reader, and to induce
a belief that it must have been drawn up from detailed as well
es authentic information. But a more erroneous notion could
not possibly be entertained.
" Mr. Lockhart's statement is inaccurate in almost every
particular. Mr. John Ballantyne did not leave Kelso
abruptly for the English metropolis;' he never officiated as ' a
clerk in a London banking house ;" the continued intelli-
gence of the printer's prosperity' did not 'determine him to
return to Scotland,' because it could not—James Ballantyne
not having settled in Edinburgh until about seven years after
his brother's return from London I It is is incorrect, there-
fore, that, not finding an opening in Edinburgh, he again tried
the shop in Kelso,' he having made no attempt to find such
opening' until nearly ten years subsequent to this period:
his business in Kelso did not soon melt to nothing in his
hands ;' and, lastly, it is not true that ' his goods were disposed
of by auction for the benefit of his creditors.' The different
assertions contained in this short extract are all groundless and
imaginary, without the slightest foundation in fact, as Mr.
Lockhart might have easily discovered by making the neces-
sary inquiries. From those of his contemporaries who still
survive the truth could have been ascertained had the truth
been wanted.

" The father of the Messrs. Ballantyne, a man of unchal-
lengeable respectability, notwithstanding Mr. Lockhart's pal-
try sneer about his being a petty shopkeeper, carried on the
business of a dealer in goods of all sorts, as was then usual
with merchants in country towns. Being in easy, if not in
affluent circumstances, the elder Ballantyne gave his sons a
liberal, and what was then considered in the place, an expen-
sive education. But, as John was intended to follow the
calling of his father, the latter, being desirous to afford him an
opportunity of acquiring a more extensive and thorough know-
ledge of business than could be attained in a provincial town,
sent him for that purpose to London, in the year 1794. This
is what Mr. Lockhart has been pleased to describe as 'leaving
Kelso abruptly for the chances of the English metropolis'—
thereby insinuating that his departure was compulsatory, or
caused by some discreditable occurrence. After spending
about a year in London, John returned to Kelso in 1795, and
was immediately admitted into partnership with his father. In
1797 he married, and the partnership was very soon after-
wards dissolved. But his father, at the same time, resigned
to him one principal department of his business; and this
John Ballantyne continued to carry on until he left Kelso and
came to settle in Edinburgh, in the year 1805. Hence,
from the time when he left London until that when he settled in
Edinburgh, he continued to reside as a merchant in Kelso ;
and we therefore leave it to Mr. Lockhart to explain how the
continued intelligence of the printer's prosperity,' who did not
settle in Edinburgh until the year 1802, could 'determine' his
brother John 'to return to Scotland' in the year 1795.
This brief recital furnishes a pointed specimen of Mr.
Lockhart's historical accuracy, when he professes to relate
facts. Mr. Lockhart, in conclusion, informs us that 'John
.Nn quitted his birthplace under circumstances w hich, I shall
54,/- in
1;,17 sequel, left a deep and painful trace even upon
- 4 We have searched in vain in the sequel'
that volatile min— --e here so formally announced; and
for the ominous disclose. --nnlete ignorance as to the
we are therefore left in ca._
-oduced so 'deep and
'
nature of the circumstances' which
painful' an effact even !Tan the of J lm Bal-
-4v forll.
lantvne. But, if Mr. Lockhart had no better autho..
promised revelation than for the other circumstances' abu,
noticed, it must be admitted that for once he has exercised a
sound discretion in omitting to fuffi his engagement."
No eloquence—no literary reputation—can withstand
the irresistible—the sympathetic impulse, which such a
plain statement as the above must make upon the public
mind. It will at once strike every reader that Mr. Lock-
hart's narrative as regards the Messrs. Ballantyne, is not
only simply incorrect, but that it is studiously perverted
with a view to create prejudices at the outset, which would
serve an ill-natured purpose, when alluding to their business
transactions with their and his illustrious friend, at a sub-
sequent period of their history. What that purpose was., as
far as Lockhart could make it, is now a matter of' history.
It was, in fact, nothing less than to encourage tl.e inference
on the part of the public, that Sir Walter Scott, in con-
necting himself in business with such men as the Ballan-
tynes, exposed himself, despite of every exertion on his part,
to inevitable ruin. We quote the answer which the friends
of the Messrs. Ballantynes have given to this charge. It
is cogent, and to the purpose :
" It is true, that the rashness of Scott's literary schemes—
the extreme imprudence of which his biographer has not at-
tempted to disguise—must have considerably embarrassed both
himself and his partner ; but even these were net the cause
of Scott's ultimate entanglements,' as Mr. Lockhart asserts
in a subsequent part of his work ; the business of the printing-
house having been ample enough to conquer all the difficulties
which sprung from that source. Neither was the unfortunate
bookselling business—' begun,' as Mr. Lockhart most truly
says, in the short-sighted heat of pique, and conducted with
the extravagant folly of a raw speculator in the perilous trade
of publishing'—in any way the cause of the embarrassments
in which Sir Walter Scott became eventually involved. Even
although it had, his biographer would not have been entitled
to complain ; for it was entirely of Scott's own seeking. That
concern was established to meet his own views at the time,
he having a one-half share, and James and John Ballantyne one-
fourth share each, with a salary to the latter as manager. But,
although the difficulties arising from the bookselling concern
were troublesome at the time, they were not lasting. John
Ballantyne, in his Memorandum'—which Mr. Lockhart
quotes, but does not condescend to inform us how or by what
means it chanced to come into his hands—attributes them in
part to the most extravagant and foolish advances from its
funds to the printing concern;' in other words, to the paying
the accounts due for printing the unpromising' literary ad-
ventures in which Scott rashly embarked, and which have been
pretty correctly enumerated by Mr. Lockhart himself.
" But even the bad stock—and none could possibly be worse
—accumulated in consequence of those rash and ill-judged
speculations, was, in the end, disposed of upon advantageous
terms; the house met all its engagements ; and Sir Walter,
who ultimately became the sole creditor, paid even himself
in full, with a balance of a thousand pounds.' What, then,
it has justly been asked, becomes of the ruin which John
W
Ballantyne had entailed upon Sir alter, if, after all the wild
speculations in which Scott had involved the young and starred
concern, he was paid in full, and a thousand pounds more?' To
every reader of Mr. Lockhart's work it must be as clear. as
noonday that Sir Walter Scott's embarrassments did not spring
from his connection with the Ballantynes, either as printers or
booksellers, but originated solely in his ambition to become a
landed proprietor, and to endow a family,' before he had ac-
quired the means of effecting either upon any sound or secure
foundation. And it is equally evident that Mr. James Ballan-
tyne was eventually ruined by Sir Walter Scott—rendered
penniless at a time when he ought to have been able, if so
inclined, to retire with a handsome competence. If Sir Wal-
ter Scott had never been connected with James Ballantyne in
business, but had contented himself with extending his patron-
age to his old schoolfellow, it would have been infinitely better
for
.both parties. Mr. Bailantyne would, in that case, have
realized a respectable fortune ; and Sir Walter would have
escaped the temptations presented by tho facilities of a mer-

cantile copartnership to raise money for the purchase of lands
for which he had not otherwise the means of paying."
The carrectuess of this statement is clearly proved by
extracts !rorn documents of the very highest authority_._
documents to which Mr. Lockhart had free access. But
upon this point, perhaps, no authority twill bs dcemed cqu
to that of Scott himself, whos2 testimony is thus invoked
by the friends of the Messrs. Ballantyne :
" Sir Walter Scott, however, expressed himself in a very
different spirit towards his old friend and his companion in mis-
fortune. When his ' hour of distress darkened about him,' be
sc:'med to take a particVar pleasure in reside; justice to one
who had borne prosperity with moderation, and now proved hint_
self ready to encounter alive; sity with fortitude. In Di
ary,
under Diar,
under date the 17th of January, Sir Walter writes, James
Ballantyne called this morning, good honest fellow, with a
vissagc as black as the crook. lie hopes no salvation has,
ineed, taken measures to stop. It is hard, after having fought
such a battle.' Again he says, Ballantyne behaved like him.
sell; and SINKS TUE PROSPECT OF lIIS OWN RUIN IN CONTEM
PLATING MINE.' Again, in a letter to Mr. Lockhart hims(ll
written a few days after the insolvency was phliely known it:
Edinburgh (20th of January, 1826), he declares-4 I HAvE
BEEN FAR FROM SUFFERING BY JAMES BALLANTYNE. / OWC it
to him to say, that his DIFFIcuLTIEs, as well as his advantages,
are owing to ME.'"
The pamphlet contains two letters addressed by Mr.
Lockhart to Mr. James Ballantyne, conceived in terms of
sincere respect and friendship, requesting to he furnished
with reminiscences for a biography of his father-in-
law. Poor Ballantyne was then on his death-bed, and
though he knew that his end was hourly approaching., he
exerted his remaining strength to collect and arrange
anecdotes of his friend Sir Walter. We will not quote
these letters, that we may spare the writer of them the mor-
tification of repeating the hope expressed in the commen-
tary upon them.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LOUIS XIV.
Vols. 111. and IV. BY G. P. R. J4mEs, Es(2.
London, Bentley, 1838.
Mr. James's Historical Sketches of the Life and Times of
Louis the Fourteenth—the greatest actor of Royalty that
the world ever saw—are here brought to a conclusion.
The work is one which reflects credit upon its author, as
its wide circulation cannot fail to do upon the literary taste
of the age. Having, however, endeax oured to do justice to
its literary merits on the appearance of the first volumes, we
shall rest satisfied with strongly recommending it as a book
pre-eminently worthy of a place in every gentleman's
library. The portraits with which it is embellished are
very beautifully executed.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

EGHAM RACES-VI:STRADA r.

It is seldom that we have known these popular and well.eon-
ducted races commence under such favourable auspices in one very
material respect, viz., the weather, which, and it is a novelty in
the Egham race week, was delightfully fine. The company, al-
though somewhat less numerous than had been anticipated, was
highly respectable, many having travelled either by the Western
Railway to Slough, or the Southampton one to Weybridge, from
both which places the means of continuing the journey to the
course were obtainable. The Stewards were the Earl of Albe-
marble, Henry Seymour, Esq., and W. J. Denison, Esq , M.P.,
Mr. Clark, of Newmarket, officiating as Judge, and Mr. Hibburd
as Clerk of the Races. An adequate police force (under Inspector
Hughes, A division) was provided for the maintenance of order,
and everything done towards furthering the comfort and amuse-
ment of the spectators, that judgment and liberality could dictate.
Besides many other fashionables, whose names we were unable to
collect, we noticed the Earl of Albemarle, Earl Waldegrave, Lord
and Lady Francis Gordon, Lord G. Loftus, Lord C. Fitzroy, Hon.
H. Rous, Hon. P. and Mrs. Pierrepoint, Hon. W. Fitzroy, Sir
G. Hcathcote, Sir J. Gibbon, Col. and Mrs. Chaloner, Col.
Bouverie, Col. Salwey, M.P., Capt. Gardner, Capt. Seymour,
Messrs. Mitchell, Dolphin, Worrall, J. llunter, Percy, Bishop,
Bulkeley, Somers, ALP., H. Aston, &c.
The following are particulars of the races:—
The Gold Cup, of 100 soya. value (in specie), by Subs. of 10 SOTS.
each ; for three- yr- olds, 7st ; four yrs, Sat 71b ; five yrs, 9st ;
six yrs. and aged, 9st 31b. Mares and geldings allowed 31bs. The
winner to be sold for 600 soya., if demanded, &c. Two miles.

(10 Subs. )
Sir G. Ileathcote's Tawney Owl, 3 yrs. Chapple 1
Captain Williamson's Alervan, 4 yrs.
Mr. V. Dolphin's The Skater, 5 vrs
It was at first understood that foothill would start, and, on the
strength of it, 5 and 6to 4 was betted agst Tawney Owl. The fear
of a claim, however, led to Toothill's withdrawal, and to 10 to 6
being betted on Tawney Owl agst the field, the horses walked for
more than 200 yards, after which The Skater took the lead at a
gentle pace, Mervan lying second, and Tawney Owl last till they
reached the last turn, when Tawney Owl went in front, made run-
ning at a rattling pace, kept in front to the end, and won by three
lengths. A good race for second.
The Two-vr-Olds Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, h. ft. ; colts Bst
51b ; and fillies, Bst 21b. Winners 31bs extra. Half a mil'.
(4 Subs.)
Mr. Dixon's, ch. f. by Langar

. -
Sir G. Heathcote's br. f. by Sultan
2 to 1 on the Langar filly, which made all the running, and won
cleverly by a length.
Plate of 40 sovs. given by the Members for the Western Division
of the County of Surrey, added to a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs.
each ; three years old, 6st 121 b ; four years, Set 71b ; five years,
9st ; six years and aged, 9st 31b ; mares and geldings allowed
31b. The winner to be sold for 250 sovs. if demanded, &c. Two
mile heats.
Mr. J. Day's Zethus, aged Chapple 2 1 1
Capt. Williamson's Mervan, 4 vrs.
Mr. S. Stanley's ch. f. Willesden, 5 yrq
First heat-6 to 4on Willesden. Zethus made the running, fol-
lowed by Mervan to the distance, where he challenged, and after a
fine race won by a head.
Second heat-6 to son Zethus, who made strong running, and
won in a canter, Mervan having pulled up some lengths before he
reached home.

Entry for the Queen's Plate (Thursday)—Mr. Theobald's
Loutherbourg,- Mr. Dolphin's The Skater, Sir G. Heathcote's
Valentissimo, Captain Oardnor's Toothill, and Mr. Robertson's
Olympic.

INTELLIGENCE EXTRA.
NE TVMARKET JULY MEETING, 1839.

THURSDAY.
The Buxton Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for colts, Bst Clb
and fillies Bst 41b, then two years old; untried horses or mares'
allowed 31bs. T. Y. C.

Duke of Grafton's f. by Jerry, out of Dublin (31bs); Lord Ta-
vistock's c. Taurus, out of Plaything (m. tint ); Lord Lichfield's
c. by Belzoni, out of Zillah.

FIRST SPRING MEETING, 184 O. —2IIo.rDA
The Crescent Stakes of 100 sous. each, h. ft., for colts Bst 71b, and
fillies Bst 41b, then two years old ; untried horses or mares al..
lowed 31bs. T. Y. C.

Lord Lichfield's f. by Langar, out of Sister to Portrait ; Lord
Tavistock's f. by Taurus, out of Plaything (n. tint.); Duke of
Grafton's c. by Bentley, out of Oxygen (h. untried).
Mr. Bowes's br. f. High Pressure, and b. f. Cachuca, ist 71b
each, agst Mr. Cooke's br. c. Chamean, Bst 71b. D.M. 200, h. ft.

CRAVEN MEETING, 1841.-310NnA
The Twenty- wyenth Riddlesviorth Stakes of 200 sous. each, h. ft.
for the produce of mares covered in 1837; colts, Bst 71b ; and
fillies, B,it 4113. Ab. M. Untried stallions or mares allowed 31b;

if both, lb*,
Mr. Thornhill's c. by Mai out of Mustard ; Mr. Thornhill's
c. by Emilius, out of Maria ; Lord Lichfield's ch. f. by Langar, out
of Sister to Portrait; Lord Lichfield's oh, c. by Ishmael, out of
Lioness (both unt.) ; Lord Lichfield's ch. c. by Langar, out of
Miniature ; Mr. Osbaldiston's b. c. by The Saddler, out of Lady
Elizabeth, 51bs ; Mr. Wreford's c. by Sultan, out of Monimia;
Lord Jersey's f. by Salton, out of Trampoline; Colonel Peel's ch.
f. by Sultan, out of Garcia,
TITYSDAY,
Eighth Tuesday Riddlesworth Stakes of 200 sous, each It, ft., for
the produce of mares covered in 1837 ; cults, Bst 7lb ' and fillies,
Bst 4lbs. D.M. Untried stallions or mares allowed 31bs. ; if

both, bibs.
Lord Exeter's b. e. by Sultan, out of Velvet ; Mr. Watt's b. c.
by Voltaire, out of Nicotris (m. unt.) ; Lord Chesterfield's b. f.
by Sultan, out of Rowton's dam ; Mr. Wreford's b. c. by Sultan,
out of Margellina ; Duke of Portland's c. by Mundig, out of
Thebes (h. unt.); Duke of Portland's f. by Glaucus, out of Tra-
gedy (b. unt.) ; Colonel Peel's b. f. by Sultan, out of Ilestor (n.
unt.); Colonel Peel's ch. f. by Sultan, out of Garcia ; Lord Jer-
sey's c. by Buzzard, out of Alea wit.); lArd Jersey's f. by
Sultan, out of Trampoline.

WEDNESDAY.
The Column Stakes of 50 soya. each, h. ft. ; for colts, Bst 11b ;
and fillies, Bst 41b, then three yrs. old. Those by untried stal-
lions, or out of untried mares, allowed 3lbs. ; if both, 51b.
Mr. 'Bowes's ch. f. by Velocipede, out of Mundig's dam ; Mr.
Osbaldeston's f. by The Saddler, dam by Granby (Mb); 'Ur'
Osbaldeston's e. by The Saddler, out of Lady Elizabeth (51b);
Mr. Batson's f. by Plenipotentiary, out of Acacia (h. untried) ;
Duke of Portland's c. by Plenipotentiary, dam by Reveller (51b);,
Duke of Portland's f. by Pantaloon, out of Souvenir ;
ch. f. by Sultan, out of Garciaby sultan, out
of Hester (31b) ; Col. Peel's br. c. by Camel, out of Versatility ;
Lord Suffield's f. by Plenipotentiary, out of Albania (51b) ; Col.
Anson's c. by Physician, out of Louisa (h. untried) ; Lord Ches-
terfield's b. f. by Sultan, out of Rowton's dam ; Lord Chester-
Col. Peel's
field's b. c. by Ishmael, out of Arcot Lass (h. untried) ,• Lord
GhCs-
terfield's b. f. by The Colonel, out of Peri ; Lord Ch esterfield s
br. f. by Ishmael, out of Arachne (h. untried) ; Lord Chester
field's b. f. by Ishmael, out of Charity (31b); Lord Exeter's f. by
Reveller, out of Green Mantle ; Lord Exeter's c. by Sultan, out
of Velvet ; Mr. W. Edwards 's b. f, Miss W. Edwards, by Doctor
Syntax, out of Destiny; Lord G. Bentincies b, f. by Physician,
out of Camarine (51b) • Lord Tavistock's f. by Tamil:, MO of
Plaything (31b) ; Lord 'Tavistock's b. c. by Taurus, out of Oak
Apple (m. untried).

AQUATICS.
• a for
WATERLOO-BRIDGE REGATTA.--The fifth annual col.pc--
a wherry and other prizes, given by the ladies and gentlemt
inhabitants of St. John. Lambeth, took place yesterday. It
was confined to the watermen plying at Waterloo-bridge stairs,
amongst whom, as a competitor, was W, Watts, the unsuccess-
ful candidate on Monday, in the great racy at Putney. Th‘'
match was with six pairs of sculls in three heats, the two first
men of the first heat, and the two first men of the second, being
in the grand beat. The following men had been entered :
First heat, R. T. Barrow, red; W. Watts, yellow; W. Ray"
den, pink. Second heat, G. Franks, blue ;W. Creeds, black;
Edward Stevens, green. The distance was to start from Wa-
terloo-bridge, round Maudsley's Road, dunn the north shore
to Corey's craft, return up to ['cache's Road, and fidsh at
Waterloo-bridge. At half.past six, yellow, pink, blue, and
black, as the winners of the two preceding heats, started fur
the grand heat. They went away very prottily, but Watts
directly afterwards got the lead and maintained it throughout,
in coming against tide, an:l never lost It. pink was second up
Watts looked by far the best man, but only won by three lengths.

sin, D LACY EvANs M.P.—This gallant offi-
cer, accompanied by Lady evans, has left town far the 09th
of France, from whence he proceeds to Madrid, to pay his re-
spects to the Queen Regent ; and, also, to urge the claims of
the Legion on the Spanis Government. We wish him success.