William Blackwood to John Murray (early 1815): 'Yesterday I wrote a letter of thanks to Ballantyne for the delight I had received [from Guy Mannering], and expressed my feelings in the best way I could with regard to this beautiful production. I did not of course appear in it at all as the Bookseller, but merely as the Amateur. I know he will have shown my letter to the author, and though humble the offering, as it will be the first, it may perhaps be of some use to the Bookseller.' [Source author continues] 'He [...] refers to "Guy Mannering," the first two volumes of which he had now finished, and was even more delighted with it than before [when Ballantyne had read out extracts to him].'