'We are having a meeting on the 4th July, when I will table the subject,
and if we possibly can assist in bringing out the worthy Judge in good
stile, we will be most ready to co-operate with your pious endeavours to
that effect. I should wish to hear from you before that time what you
would wish to be done in the matter respecting the size, number of the
impression, and so forth. Whatever lies in my limited power will be
gladly contributed by, dear sir, your very faithful servant,

'WALTER SCOTT.
_'Castle Street, 18 June 1823.'_

[16] The Bannatyne Club was instituted on 15th February 1823. Its
object was to print works of the history, topography, poetry, and
miscellaneous literature of Scotland in former times. Sir Walter
Scott was president till his death. The Club's last meeting was in
1861, but there were some publications till 1867.

And in answer to further inquiry he again wrote on 10th July 1823:--

'MY DEAR SIR THOMAS,--You are too easily alarmed about the fate of your
ancestors. I did not mean it would not be published--far less that I
would not do all in my power to advance the publication--but only that
the size and probable expense of the work, with the limited sale for
articles of literature only interesting to the Scottish Antiquaries,
rendered the Booksellers less willing to adopt the proposal than they
seemed at first. However I thought it as well to wait until Constable
himself came down from London, as I had only spoken with his partner,
and I have since seen him, and find him well disposed to the
undertaking. I told him I would give with the greatest pleasure any