Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. 97
absorbed everything, it became intolerable on the Tory-
side that such an organ should hold the field in literary
matters ; and the necessity of a periodical to support
other interests, and assert the right of the constitu-
tional party to an equal hearing, was very clearly seen.
It is true that the ' Quarterly Review ' was formerly
the rival and chief opponent of the great organ of the
Liberals ; but it was perhaps, as we have indicated,
too ponderous from the beginning, too sober, digni-
fied, and middle - aged, lacking the dash and the
fiery energy of the other, coming too gently into
the world to strike any exhilarating note upon the
public ear. It made its mark, but not as its oppo-
nent, without any of the sensation and stir which
the ' Edinburgh Review ' had called forth. The true
champion and challenger of Jeffrey and his men— as
dauntless and inconsiderate of all secondary motives
as their beginning had been, as rash, spontaneous, and
brilliant—was yet to seek.
That this should come in the shape of an Edinburgh
Magazine,—something not so ponderous, more nimble,
more frequent, more familiar,—was a thought that had
been for some time vaguely forming in Blackwood's
brain. And perhaps the startling consciousness of a
fall, which the energetic young publisher had received
after the failure of all his hopes in respect to Scott,
pricked him to another effort which would make him
forgive himself for his want of success, and carry con-
viction to every looker-on that he was not a man to
be foiled. Constable, his rival, who had just gained
what could scarcely help seeming to both a victory
over him in respect to the ' Tales of my Landlord,'
possessed not only the 'Edinburgh Review' itself,
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