Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

174 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
eration, more lordly, more formal, than the present,
which had once held the northern capital in fee. Mr
Henry Mackenzie, the Man of Feeling, the author of
* Julia de Boubign^,' a work which our grandfathers
believed to be equal to Rousseau, the most perfect
Man of Letters perhaps left in the land, hitherto a
friend and patron of Blackwood, and consulted by
him on many literary subjects, is the author of the
first of these letters :
—
Henry Mackenzie to W. Blackwood.
Heriot Row, Tuesday, 31st March 1818.
It is with regret that Mr Mackenzie finds himself obliged to
return the enclosed Magazine, which contains several good
articles, but mixed with some things so offensive that he would
not wish it to be found lying on his table. In taking leave of
its publisher and editor he cannot avoid warning them (and he
is sure " with a friendly voice ") to abstain from personal detrac-
tion, which may perhaps gratify or amuse a small proportion
of frivolous or ill-natured readers, but will certainly disgust
that more respectable class from whose good opinion only solid
and lasting reputation can be acquired.
The second is from Mr Patrick Fraser-Tytler, the
historian, another great local potentate, and is still
more tremendous in disapproval, and splendid in pomp
of virtue :
—
Patrick Fraser-Tytler to W. Blackwood.
Pbinces Street, 2Uh March 1818.
When I lately saw you I had only glanced over your last
number. I have since had leisure to read some part of it, more
especially your prefatory poetical Address to Correspondents, and
I must say I have done so both with pain and disappointment.
When you first commenced your literary journal you con-
sulted me on the subject, and I told you that I thought there
was an excellent opening for a periodical work of that nature,