Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

246 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
The correspondence, however, now seems to be
interrupted by many such differences of opinion, but
we add such extracts from it as may serve to show
Lockhart's continuous feelings to his old home and
friends among the changed circumstances of his
career :
—
J. G. Lockhart to W. Blackwood.
30th January 1830.
These double numbers are capital. The Professor, since he
is thus aUve and kicking, ought to be ashamed of himself for
not attending to my letter denouncing him about Sotheby's MS.
The old man is a gentleman, and is entitled either to receive his
manuscript back instantly (it is the only copy) or a promise
that it is to be printed in the next number of ' Maga '—for
which purpose I understand Wilson to have solicited it. Some
attention to the common laws of politeness would do no harm.
Nothing more on this subject from me.
By the bye, Murray has had a grand affair. The Master of
the Mint, Harris, told the Duke yesterday that the last article
in the * Quarterly,' just published, had produced a panic among
the Jews, and sunk Stocks 2 per cent. The Dictator sent for
Croker and Barrow to the Cabinet Council and rowed them.
They sent for Murray and rowed him, and then up came the
Emperor to row me. I took it all very cool : he had been consulted
quite at leisure beforehand. God knows how this may
end—I care not.
J. G. Lockhart to W. Blackwood.
December 28, 1880.
I was asked to deliver a message to you, and I agreed to do
so—not doubting in the least what your answer would be, and
never having dropped a hint that I doubted it. You and I
have seen too much of the outs in the character of ins to be
easily seduced by such persons. I have for the ' Q. K.' resisted
giving the smallest pledge to any Minister (except indeed to
the Duke of Wellington on his first coming in), and nothing
shall ever induce me to put faith in any Minister's professions
again. We are fighting the same battle, though in somewhat