Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

220 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
we have already called the criticism of life (with
apologies to the representatives of Mr Matthew
Arnold), which was a kind of thing highly popular at
the time, as it is now in a different fashion. It was
probably in 1817 that the idea was formed; but it
was not till two years later that the work was pub-
lished, though the bewildering network of advertise-
ments woven about it, and the other frolic circum-
stances of its origin, go far to make even a proved
date doubtful to the bewildered reader. A review
professedly of a first edition appeared in the Maga-
zine in the numbers for February and March 1819,
which it was part of the mystification to represent
as being from no less a hand than that of Scott ; but
in fact there was no first edition at all, the first
actual publication being called the 2nd edition. The
reason for this, unless it were, like so many other
things, " for fun," we are completely unable to divine.
There are a. few indications, however, that it did not
pass through the press without various skirmishes
between author and publisher, in which the former
did not always come out victorious. The following
scrap is dated, with concise but not very instruc-
tive brevity, " 5 o'clock," which implies a running
controversy over the items of the publication hour
by hour, as the printer's boy ran to and fro —
:
I have altered all you alluded to except the Uttle bit about
Ballantyne, who, you must see, has taken more trouble than
usual with me, and well deserves a compliment. He has really
served the book by many of his suggestions. I think the
vignette will be a glorious finis indeed.
And here is a characteristic little outburst :
I give you permission to alter as you please all about your-
—