Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE ETHICS OF REVIEWING. 273
and let the Doctor know them. Croker praises the ' Lights
and Shadows,' it is true ; but it is because he likes the book
rather: he abuses 'Pen Owen,' partly because he thinks it
deserves abuse, and partly for other reasons which you know
and he abuses Gait because he hates and also despises him.
Mr L. has no business to get a calumniator to abuse my works,
and tell him so from me, let the consequences be what they
will. Firstly, Croker's letter ought for the joke's sake to be
printed just as it is, and I do not think seriously he would like
to see it interpolated. It certainly is his.
I do not know whether my letter to Philomag is at all good.
The Doctor or Mr L. may improve it by sharp and ingenious
touches if they will. But let them not meddle with 'Lights
and Shadows' at their peril. The propriety of damning all
your own books is, I think, questionable. Were I in Gait's
situation I should be extremely sulky. But he is 400 miles off,
and his books sell, therefore you may abuse his books with
impunity to him or yourself. I am only 40 miles off, and my
books don't sell. That makes the difference.
I have done but a short article on Green. But more in
another number. Observe how it is printed. The note is
almost as long as the article, and it is to run along in line on
each page. I will send a page or two on Henry White, and
with extracts four or five on Bowles. My articles are in
general far too long. You have Doubleday, and may use it or
not as you think proper. I will probably send something else.
Lady Blessington's book is very, very poor stuff indeed— quite
inferior to the other, which was bad enough. . . . Dr
Maginn
is one of the cleverest men now living: but he writes best
when most original. I do not so well like his imitations of
others in ' Maga.' His " Hexameters," his " Chevy Chase " (in
Latin verse), his " Irish Melodies," &c., are better than can
be. His " T^te-k-tete," &c., were not so happy. Tell him so
from me.
I hope everything good about the trial. Hope will manage
the case with power and propriety. Dr Maginn and Mr L., if
assistance can be given, are equal to anything required. Most
anxious shall I be to hear from you about it.
This number must on no account be a middling one, and
YOL. I. S
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