 expectations of the author, had these been far more sanguine than
he ever entertained.
    Great anxiety was expressed to learn the name of the author, but on this no
authentic information could be attained. My original motive for publishing the
work anonymously, was the consciousness that it was an experiment on the public
taste which might very probably fail, and therefore there was no occasion to
take on myself the personal risk of discomfiture. For this purpose considerable
precautions were used to preserve secrecy. My old friend and schoolfellow, Mr.
James Ballantyne, who printed these Novels, had the exclusive task of
corresponding with the Author, who thus had not only the advantage of his
professional talents, but also of his critical abilities. The original
manuscript, or, as it is technically called, copy, was transcribed under Mr.
Ballantyne's eye by confidential persons; nor was there an instance of treachery
during the many years in which these precautions were resorted to, although
various individuals were employed at different times. Double proof-sheets were
regularly printed off. One was forwarded to the author by Mr. Ballantyne, and
the alterations which it received were, by his own hand, copied upon the other
proof-sheet for the use of the printers, so that even the corrected proofs of
the author were never seen in the printing office; and thus the curiosity of
such eager inquirers as made the most minute investigation, was entirely at
fault.
    But although the cause of concealing the author's name in the first
instance, when the reception of Waverley was doubtful, was natural enough, it is
more difficult, it may be thought, to account for the same desire for secrecy
during the subsequent editions, to the amount of betwixt eleven and twelve
thousand copies, which followed each other close, and proved the success of the
work. I am sorry I can give little satisfaction to queries on this subject. I
have already stated elsewhere, that I can render little better reason for
choosing to remain anonymous, than by saying with Shylock, that such was my
humour. It will be observed, that I had not the usual stimulus for desiring
personal reputation, the desire, namely, to float amidst the conversation of
men. Of literary fame, whether merited or undeserved, I had already as much as
might have contented a mind more ambitious than mine; and in entering into this
new contest for reputation, I might be said rather to endanger what I had, than
to have any considerable chance of acquiring more. I was affected, too, by none
of those motives which, at an earlier period
