Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

268 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
the intercourse was, and what were the vicissitudes to
which it was subject, than by^ quoting the following
broken fragment, without beginning or end, in which
there is a moan of injured aifection not at all of the
kind which has been supposed to be possible between
author and publisher. Grub Street never knew any
such relationship as this of which Mr Blackwood
sadly records the momentary breach, but which it is
evident was only the rent of a moment, immediately
brought together again :
—
JV. Blackwood to Professor Wilson.
May 14, 1821.
I had just come from my solitary meal at Ambrose's, whea
the pleasure of your short letter—short as it is—raised mj
spirits. It is not the not receiving articles that has depressed
me, but it has been the feeling of being, as it were, left to
myself, and no one caring for me.
2,1st May,
I had written the above this day se'nnight, and intended to
have said something more, but I felt it too much for me, and
put it into my pocket, where it has lain ever since. How to
account for your conduct I know not, and you mistake my
feelings if you suppose that it is the not receiving your and
Mr Lockhart's promised support to the Magazine that has
vexed me. What I feel hurt at is, that after devoting my
every thought and energy to whatever I conceived would be
gratifying or useful to you, and never for a moment thinking
of myself, you should act with this kind of indifference, so
completely foreign to your usual warm-heartedness. My con-
fidence in your friendship is the only thing that has borne
me up in many difficulties, and feeling strongly that I have
ever deserved it, I need not say how painful it is to me.
This letter balances, with its note of sentiment, the
many wails of wounded friendship which came from
Wilson's capacious bosom in after-days.