Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

88 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
came in, and more peaceful counsels prevailed. The
final argument, which quieted the wounded spirit at
least on Mr Blackwood's part, was this :
W. Blackwood to John Murray.
Had it gone on it would have made a complete breach with
Mr Scott, which would have been more hurtful than the loss of
the difference of our claim. Both from what I have heard from
his friends, and from what has occurred lately to myself, I saw
—
that he did not wish any difference should take place.
To Ballantyne, accordingly, he wrote on the 3d
July, announcing his desire "to close amicably this
unfortunate business " by accepting subscription price
for the stock of books, which the other party had
offered. " In this I have been regulated by the
strong feeling I have with regard to ' the Author,'
he says. Even to the disappointed and outraged
publisher, who had been, it must be allowed, rather
scurvily treated, the spell of Scott's name was too
strong to permit his sacred shield to be touched.
With Constable and Ballantyne, let us also be sure,
the blame lay.
In this way "the fortunate publishers," who had
so rejoiced and triumphed over their mysterious
author, and exchanged all the surmises of the times
as to his real personality, with unconcealed delight
in their connection with him, were for ever severed
from his great and troubled career. This, one can-
not but feel, was one of those tragically insignificant
circumstances which so often shape life apart from any
consciousness of ours. Probably ruin would never have
overtaken Sir Walter had he been in the steady and
careful hands of Murray and Blackwood, for it is un-
"