Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

146 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
of the ' Edinburgh Monthly Magazine,' but Mr Cleghom, from
his connection in another quarter, carefully excluded every-
thing of the kind. From the nature of the work, there cannot
be much space allowed for articles connected with agriculture
still, if Mr Laidlaw would undertake them, he could always
have something every month.
That the big fish swallowed this fine bait as sweetly
as could be desired is clear. The following reply from
Scott I have found after some difficulty, with the date
of Abbotsford, 21st September, and evidently in direct
answer to that above quoted :
Walter Scott to W. Blackwood.
I would have written to you long since had anything occurred
worth plaguing you about. But from an idle man—and such I
have been, from the necessity of taking much hard exercise to
keep the cramps at [arm's-length]—there is but little to be looked
for, always excepting the gratitude due for the Stirling Heads,^
which are most beautiful. I think of getting some of them
done for the ornament above the compartments of my library
here, which they will accord with very happily.
On the subject of the Magazine, I am too much a veteran of
literature to be surprised at the unexpected shoals on which
the fairest undertakings sometimes are wrecked, or at the un-
foreseen causes of difference which occur between publishers
and authors. Mr Pringle wrote me a few lines on the subject,
to which I answered, expressing the interest I feel for Scottish
literature and its supporters in general, and my intention to be
completely neutral, reserving the privilege of contributing any
trifling assistance to either or to both publications. Indeed,
understanding that the principal conduct of yours is committed
to the charge of a gentleman whose talents are of the highest
order, and whose good opinions and goodwill have been ex-
pressed to me in more ways than one, it is naturally to be
supposed I should be desirous of aiding a work he is interested
—
* A book of engravings published by Blackwood.
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