orite, would overcome effectually the hesitation of one
or other of these houses about venturing on the encumbrance which
Constable seemed to shrink from with such pertinacity; but upon this
ingenious proposition Scott at once set his _veto_. He writes (October
17, 1814):--

{p.018} DEAR JOHN,--

Your expedients are all wretched, as far as regards me. I
never will give Constable, or any one, room to say I have
broken my word with him in the slightest degree. If I lose
everything else, I will at least keep my honor unblemished;
and I do hold myself bound in honor to offer him a Waverley,
while he shall continue to comply with the conditions
annexed. I intend the new novel to operate as something more
permanent than a mere accommodation; and if I can but be
permitted to do so, I will print it before it is sold to any
one, and then propose, first to Constable and
Longman--second, to Murray and Blackwood--to take the whole
at such a rate as will give them one half of the fair
profits; granting acceptances which, upon an edition of
3000, which we shall be quite authorized to print, will
amount to an immediate command of L1500; and to this we may
couple the condition, that they must take L500 or L600 of
the old stock. I own I am not solicitous to deal with
Constable alone, nor am I at all bound to offer him the new
novel on any terms; but he, knowing of the intention, may
expect to be treated with, at least, although it is possible
we may not deal. However, if Murray and Blackwood were to
come forward with any handsome proposal as to the stock, I
should certainly have no objection to James's giving the
pledge of the Author of W. for his next work. You are like
the crane in the fable, when you boast of not having got
anything from the business; you may thank God that it did
not bite your head off. Would to God I were at let-a-be for
let-a-be;--but you have done your best, and so must I.

Yours truly,

W. S.

Both Mr. Murray, and Longman's partner, Mr. Rees, were in Scotland
about this time; and the former at least paid Scott a visit at
Abbotsford. Of course, however, whatever propositions they may have
made were received by one or other of the Ballantynes. The result was,
{p.019} that the house of Longman undertook Guy Mannering on