Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE CONTRACT DISSOLVED. 89
likely that even the glamour of the great Magician
would have turned heads so reasonable and sober.
We can only remind ourselves in consolation that Scott
in that case would probably not have been the man
we know. He might have died serenely, the for-
tunate and safe Baronet of Abbotsford, with no
shadow of tragedy upon him. But, on the other
hand, that sublime and wonderful struggle—and the
Journal, unjparalleled record of the noblest and saddest
ordeal — would never have been. Would we
have saved him this if we could, to our own in-
finite loss ? I know not. It would have been a
great self-denial had the world had any say in the
matter, for it would have been a distinct impov-
erishment to us all.
Other smarts besides those which came from the
author's side were involved in the transaction.
Murray, who in reality was slow in agreeing to the
amicable settlement of the matter, and who had been
responsible in a great degree by his unpunctuality in
correspondence for the delay of the second edition,
had blamed Blackwood for putting it to press on
his own responsibility ; while Blackwood had been
wounded by his unusual conduct in sending information
concerning the progress of the book in London
to James Ballantyne, while remaining silent to his
partner in the venture. The following remonstrance
is temperate, but shows the wound :
W. Blackwood to John Murray.
Mr Ballantyne read me the interesting account contained in
your letter to him. The only remark I shall make upon your
writing so fully to him and so briefly to me is that I think,
—