Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

QUALIFIED DISAPPROBATION. 151
matter in the Magazine to redeem it. The enemy, however,
has been so active in stirring up individuals that several are
highly irritated who would only have laughed at it. He is
trying to form a party against me, if it were possible, to put
down both me and the Magazine. My friends, however, are
not inactive ;
and the storm is beginning, I hope, to subside.
Little as we yet know of each other, I trust to your friend-
ship in supporting me on the present occasion. I anxiously
hope that Mr Scott will continue his most important countenance.
To me at this moment it is of the last consequence, and
would set my mind quite at ease. I have no fears as to his
taking amiss the sportive way in which he is introduced in the
MS., as I know it is not possible for a human being to have a
higher admiration and respect for Mr Scott than the author
has and uniformly expresses. It is most painful for me to
think that any part of this unfortunate production may be
unpleasant to Mr Scott, or might have the smallest tendency
to weaken the lively interest he has taken in the Magazine.
I trust to his candour to feel for me in the unpleasant situa-
tion in which I have been placed, and I hope, if there should
be occasion for it, that you will exert your best efforts in my
behalf. You will of course mention this to Mr Scott in any
way you think best.
The answer of Scott himself was not long delayed,
though it is, like so many of these letters, without
date. His comments, though disapproving, were not
such as to alarm the anxious publisher with fears for
the discontinuance of his support :
Walter Scott to W. Blackwood.
I have been for several days at Bowhill, and afterwards
engaged with visitors here, which has prevented my writing.
Mr Laidlaw showed me a letter this morning about the Chaldean
article in your last Magazine, which I hasten to reply to in
person. The article (which, from not being acquainted with
names and references, I was long of comprehending) possesses
a great deal of satirical humour, but the prudence of publishing
—