Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

AN IRRESPONSIBLE WRITER. 149
fact that Scott's novel of that name had just been
announced for speedy publication. He then adds :
Scott to W. Blackwood.
Mr Laidlaw projects a series of letters under the signature
of Maugraby. I shall' certainly revise and correct them,
and if I should write any at length you will understand
that I reserve the right of printing such myself, should I
ever think it proper, which is highly improbable. Eespect-
ing my name in this matter, you will understand that I
merely assist Mr Laidlaw, and you are quite at liberty to say
that I do so. But as to my fathering any particular portion
of the correspondence, you must hold me excused if I leave
that matter to your own sagacity of detection and that of the
public. In fact, were I obliged to take pains—and this I must
if I were to make myself responsible for what I write—my
contributions would be very few indeed. Besides I may, for
aught I know, give something or other to Mr Pringle, who
would expect me to favour them also ; so I should be like the
poor fellow who was obliged to fly the country in consequence
of having rather too numerous an irregular progeny.
The link thus established between Blackwood and
the one effectual friend whom he was so much urged
to secure no doubt gave him courage ;
—
but yet there
was a tremor in his tone when on the fateful 20th of
October he forwarded the first number of the revived
Magazine to Abbotsford, with copious and enthusiastic
thanks for " the sanction and support " given to his
undertaking, " and that I now have it in my power
to say that the work is one that has your good
wishes even in the way of the slightest assistance to
Mr Laidlaw." " I hope," he adds, " that you will be
pleased with this number on the whole, and I think
that it is likely to make some noise. I anxiously
hope you will not be displeased by the Chaldee MS.