This manuscript of 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' is in Sir Walter Scott's own hand. [Library shelfmark: MS.1548]
Walter Scott began writing 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' possibly as early as 1817, and completed it in 1818. At this point Scott wished to remain anonymous and so his name did not appear on printed volumes.
To prevent people from recognising his handwriting, Scott's copy was usually passed to a third party, often his friend James Ballantyne (1772–1833), who would make another copy of it and then send it to the printers.