Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE DOUBLE NUMBER. 207
love and without malice. No one could be more
ready to applaud, and with the fullest and most
cordial praise, than the former Scorpion, though he
was still quite willing and pleased by times to use his
sting. The reference in the following is to the double
number of Sept. 1829, or rather two issued together, a
romantic and unusual expedient to use up superfluous
material, and also (not less perhaps) to startle and
dazzle the world :
—
Your two numbers are quite surprising. The Professor is
very great indeed. So is Colonna, and so is the Essay on
Wordsworth by I can't guess whom. Altogether they must
make a grand sensation surely. I send a small notice, as much
as in conscience I can offer you, of the St Albans Eomance.
Dibdin's book has just reached me. I have forgot it, and will
look into it, but do get some person who would do the thing
more con amore, for example Doubleday. I don't like Dr
Dibdin—a little glutton ; and would like much better to cast
about for something of my own devising. Let me know whether
you hear again from the Professor, and pray don't send me any
more newspapers except the ' Herald.'
I received your packet yesterday evening, and now send you
a review of Shelley's poem, which I expect will conclude the
Magazine to your satisfaction. It is really a most capital
number. Blair's pieces of prose are quite exquisite, and nothing
can be better than the Irish articles. The Oehlenschlaeger kept
me laughing for several hours. How that demon has entered
into the very core of Ambrose's ! I would have it by all means,
and call it perhaps " Horae Scandicse, No. II.," not to interfere
with any series of seriousness ! By
the way, who wrote " Micro-
sophus" ? and what is Tom Hamilton doing with himself?
I am tolerably busy just now, but must and will give you a
lift. Indeed both the London Magas are so good this month
that even your own superexcellent number will be no more
than what was needful. These people can't rival your best