James Ballantyne established the _Kelso Mail_ in 1796, but at the recommendation of Scott, for whom he had printed a collection of ballads, he removed to Edinburgh in 1802.

There he printed the "Border Minstrelsy," for Scott, who assisted him with money.

Ballantyne was in frequent and intimate correspondence with Murray from the year 1806, and had printed for him Hogg's "Ettrick Shepherd," and other works.
It was at this time that Scott committed the great error of his life.
His professional income was about L1,000 a year, and with the profits of his works he might have built Abbotsford and lived in comfort and luxury.

But in 1805 he sacrificed everything by entering into partnership with James Ballantyne, and embarking in his printing concern almost the whole of the capital which he possessed.

He was bound to the firm for twenty years, and during that time he produced his greatest works.