Yet the Ballantynes urged him on.

They furnished statements of the cost of printing and paper for each volume.

"It really strikes me," said James Ballantyne, "the more I think of and examine it, to be the happiest speculation that has ever been thought of." This undertaking eventually fell through.

Only the works of De Foe were printed by the Messrs.

Ballantyne, and published by Mr.Murray.