REMOVAL TO EDINBURGH
The “Apology” having proved thoroughly satisfactory to Scott, he wrote
to Ballantyne: “I have been for years collecting old Border ballads,
and I think I could, with little trouble, put together such a selection
from them as might make a neat little volume to sell for four or five
shillings. I will talk to some of the booksellers about it when I get
to Edinburgh, and if the thing goes on, you shall be the printer.”
Ballantyne was delighted with the proposal; and the result of this
venture changed the whole course of his fortunes, as well as those of his
friend and patron.
The “neat little volume” alluded to grew into the “Border Minstrelsy,”
the editor being fortunate enough to arouse the interest of many scholars
and antiquaries, who gave him valuable help in the work. The first two
volumes were printed and issued by Ballantyne in 1802, and bore the Kelso
imprint (Vol. I. 258 + 146; II. 392 + 6). The edition consisted of eight
hundred copies, fifty of which were on large paper. It was disposed of
in the course of the year; and the terms of publication having been that
Scott should receive half the clear profits, his share amounted to £78,
10s. When the book appeared, the obscure imprint of “Kelso” was regarded
with wonder by connoisseurs of typography, who had probably never heard
of such a place, and were astonished at the specimen of handsome printing
this provincial town had produced: it was received with the exclamation,
“What a beautiful book!”[6] The editor’s name did not appear on the
title-page, but was appended to the Dedication to the Duke of Buccleuch.
A third volume of the “Minstrelsy” followed in 1803, and was published
along with a reprint of the first two volumes. It had Edinburgh on the
imprint.
In consequence of the publication of the “Minstrelsy,” the Kelso printer
soon acquired a more than local fame, and was in general request in the
publishing world. He was therefore induced, towards the end of 1802, to
remove to Edinburgh, and he commenced there his long and distinguished
career as a book printer, “with two presses and a proof one.” He adopted
at first the designation of the Border Press. This was for a short time
in premises in the neighbourhood of Holyrood, and then again in Foulis
Close, Canongate; but in 1805 he removed to better accommodation at
Paul’s Work, where, according to one of Scott’s letters (July 1806), he
had “established a hall, equal to that which the genie of the lamp built
for Aladdin in point of size, but rather less superbly furnished, being
occupied by about a dozen of presses.” In another letter to Ballantyne,
Scott says, “I am glad you have got some elbow-room at last.”
Paul’s Work, at North Back of Canongate, under the shadow of the Calton
Hill and near the foot of Leith Wynd, had been rebuilt in 1619, on
the site of an earlier religious foundation, for the reception and
entertainment of twelve poor men, under the name of the Hospital of Our
Lady, with a chapel or altar dedicated to St. Paul; and it must also
have had some connection with the police of the city. The accounts of
the Town Treasurer and of the Dean of Guild are preserved in almost
unbroken series from 1552 to the present time. Many of the entries are
very quaint, and throw light on the social conditions then prevailing in
Edinburgh. Several items illustrating the rough justice of those days,
arranged under “discharge extraordinar,” and one referring to Paul’s
Work, may be given:—
“Item, the day of 1554, for takin of ane
greit gebet furth of the nether tolbuith and
beiring of it to the hecht of the Dow Crag,
to haif hangit hommill Jok on, and down
bringing of it agane to Sanct Paullis Wark xijᵈ
Item, for cords to bynd and hang him with, viijᵈ
Item, the feird day of Fabruar 1554, for cordis
to bind Nicoll Ramsay quhill he wes hedit, vjᵈ
Item, the samyn day, for cords to hang the man
that brint Lord James’ cornis, viijᵈ”[7]
[Illustration]
Subsequent to Reformation times the building fell into decay, but was
reconstructed and again occupied about 1619-1620 by certain Dutch
manufacturers and weavers from Delft. It was decorated over the doorway
with the city arms and the legend, “GOD · BLISS · THIS · WARK, 1619.”
We next find it converted into a hospital for the wounded soldiers of
General Leslie’s army, during the skirmishes which preceded his defeat
at Dunbar, and thereafter it was used as a penal workhouse or bridewell.
Portions of the grounds and buildings were cleared away about the middle
of the eighteenth century by James Macdowall, a merchant of Edinburgh,
who here erected a street of dwelling-houses under his own name. At the
east end of the street there was also an entrance to the printing-house.
The whole district—houses and everything thereabout—has undergone a
complete change, the ground having been appropriated by the station and
goods-sheds of the North British Railway. As a bridewell or house of
correction Paul’s Work is referred to in the “Heart of Midlothian,” in
the scene where Madge Wildfire is examined regarding her knowledge of
Geordie Robertson and the Porteous Riot:—
“‘But maybe, Madge, ye wad mind something about it, if I was to gie ye
this half-crown?’ said Sharpitlaw, taking out the piece of money.
“‘That might gar me laugh, but it couldna gar me mind.’
“‘But, Madge,’ continued Sharpitlaw, ‘were I to send you to the
Wark-house in Leith Wynd, and gar Jock Dalgleish lay the tawse on your
back——’
“‘That wad gar me greet,’ said Madge, sobbing, ‘but it couldna gar me
mind, ye ken.’”
Paul’s Work was also entered from the Canongate by the long, narrow,
and steep Coull’s Close, one of those lanes intersecting the towering
structures of the High Street and the Canongate, so happily depicted in
one sentence of “Guy Mannering”: “Away walked Mr. Pleydell with great
activity, diving through closes and ascending covered stairs, in order to
attain the High Street, by an access which, compared to the common route,
was what the Straits of Magellan are to the more open but circuitous
passage round Cape Horn.”
James Ballantyne lived close by at No. 10 St. John Street, which was
entered by an archway from the Canongate, and led to South Back of
Canongate. At the bottom of this street, within a couple of minutes from
Holyrood, could be seen, quite near at hand, Arthur’s Seat, Salisbury
Crags, and St. Anthony’s Chapel and Well—a beautiful and romantic
environment of the grey old northern capital. St. John Street, long after
the Canongate had been deserted by its courtly occupants, continued to be
the residence of a few of the rural and city gentlefolk. In this retired
spot, only a few years previously, lived the eccentric Lord Monboddo,
who is said to have anticipated the “evolution” theory. Lord Monboddo’s
daughter was one of the loveliest women of her time—the “fair Burnet”
mentioned by Burns in his “Address to Edinburgh.” A tenement at the top
of the street contained the abode of Smollett when in Edinburgh. From its
being a private street it was a quiet locality, and in those days was
guarded by an ancient seneschal in faded uniform, who barred all passage
to carriages and carts, except for the service of those who lived in the
street.[8]
[Illustration]
One of the earliest efforts of the press in Paul’s Work was the third
volume of the “Border Minstrelsy,” which was published in April 1803.
Scott wrote to Ballantyne: “I have to thank you for the accuracy with
which the ‘Minstrelsy’ is thrown off. Longman and Rees are delighted with
the printing.” The new edition of the first two volumes, issued along
with the third, consisted of 1000 copies; of Vol. III. (422 + 6) there
were 1500 printed. Five other editions followed—the sixth being printed
in 1820.
[Illustration: ST. JOHN STREET]