Series 1 > Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall, with his observations on public affairs and other memoranda, 1665-1676

XX
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
in favour of the other. No doubt many of the law cases are in
themselves such singular examples of the state of manners that it
would be a pity not to retain them even although they may be
found in the printed copy because they are there mixed with so
much professional matter that general readers will not easily dis¬
cover them.
fThe retrenching of the mere law will entirely advantage the
general sale of the work besides greatly reducing the expense, and
in either point of view it will make it a speculation more like to
be advantageous. I think Constable will be disposed to incur the
expense of publishing at his own risque, allowing you one half of
the free profits which the established mode of accounting amongst
authors and booksellers circumcises so closely that the sum netted
by the author seldom exceeds a 3d or thereabout. But then you
have no risque, and that is a great matter. My experience does
not encourage me to bid you expect much profit upon an under¬
taking of this nature, in fact on any that I have myself tried
I have been always rather a loser; but still there may be some,
and I am sure the descendant of Lord Fountainhall is best entitled
to such should it arise on his ancestor’s work. I think you had
better correspond with Constable, assuring him of my willingness
to help in any thing that can get the book out, and I am sure
Mr. Thomson will feel the same interest. I have to leave here
to-morrow for four months, but as I am only at Abbotsford I can
do any thing that may be referred to me.
‘ As for Milne’s notes, there are many of them that I think worth
preservation as describing and identifying the individuals of whom
Fountainhall wrote, although his silly party zeal makes him, like
all such partizans of faction, unjust and scurrilous.
‘ I have only to add that the Manuscript is with Mr. Thomson
for the purpose of collation, and that I am sure Constable will be
glad to treat with you on the subject of publication, and that
I will, as I have always been, be most ready to give any notes or
illustrations in my power, the only way I suppose in which I can
be useful to the publication. The idea of retrenching the law
cases, which originates with Thomson, promises, if you entertain it,
to remove the only possible objection to the publication, namely
the great expense. My address for the next four months is,
Abbotsford, by Melrose, and I am always, dear Sir Thomas, very
much your faithful, humble servant, Walter Scott.
‘ Edinr, 10 July 1823.'