Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

208 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
things, but they have many more hands and more steady ones.
I don't think Croly is used to give himself much trouble or
time. He is able to do far better than he commonly does for
'Maga.' I think I may venture to promise you one way or
other two sheets, but I shall not begin till I know what Maginn
is likely to be at. ' Don Juan '—these cantos are far better than
the last three. Shall I say so ?
I could give you a few pages on the " Northern Tales,"
" Heraldic Anomalies," " Clarke's Travels," " Faux and Cobbett
in America,"—any or all of them ; but still I desiderate a new
and a true and a grasping theme. Help me to that if you can.
1. By all means if you put in the Suicide put him in entire.
2. Poke Tom Hamilton.
3. Could this Courtenay or somebody else not help you to
something about the new Law Commission ?
I write because you ask me to do so, but I can say nothing
but that the number gives me the utmost pleasure, and that I
heartily congratulate you on it. It appears to me that it con-
tains all any such thing should contain : liberal and eloquent
criticism, sound sensible discussions, and most boyant (sic) fun
and rich humour. If people are not amused with these ' Noctes,'
for instance, Man must have ceased to be the " laughing animal."
Altogether admirable is the Irish article : a series of the sort
Maginn points at would be of the most important service not to
you only, but really to the public.
The greatest beauty of a good number is that it always
creates others by the stimulus it gives. I hope Maginn will
attack Ireland seriously, now he has begun. By the middle of
next month, I think you will be ripe for a real article on Spain
so be collecting all the pamphlets on that subject, and also on
Greece.
Don't send me any money just now, as I have enough to
bring me to town. But do send me by Tuesday's Blucher,
' Wallenstein ' : and do try to get the 'Devil's Elixir' out of
Gillies's hands. Try whether he would not submit to sit down
composedly and translate six or seven of the best scenes of
Schiller's ' Wilhelm Tell,' ' Carlos,' or ' Bride of Messina.' If he
will, I answer for the prose.
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