Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

280 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
Lake Country, where their proceedings are reported
as follows :
—
J, 0. Lockhart to W. Blackwood.
Chiefswood, August 26, 1825.
I came home last night in safety after a long and certainly a
very pleasing journey. The last week we spent at the Lakes,
when Sir W. Scott and I were two nights with the Professor
at Elleray, and afterwards at Storrs, where Mr Canning is, at
Wordsworth's, Southey's, and lastly Lowther Castle. The Pro-
fessor was in his glory, with champagne, regattas, carronades,
&c., at discretion. I am happy to tell you he went with us to
Rydal Mount, and as if to make up for the absence or abstin-
ence of seven years, ate up at our breakfast a whole jar of
Miramichi herrings, two of which were at first produced as a
great honne houche by the Stamp-master.
It would seem by this that his onslaught upon
Wordsworth was immediately preceded by a visit of
reconciliation and renewed friendship.
All this, however, might have passed under the
shield of ' Maga,' and might have been set down to
some other of the wild brotherhood, who exchanged
names and individualities so often, had not, sur ces
entrefaites, a terrible event occurred. Mr Martin,
called a jackass in the same article, resented that
description, as was not unnatural, and threatened an
action, demanding with much clamour the name of
the writer. The reader will not be surprised that
when this demand reached Wilson in his leisure at
Elleray, it should have come upon him like a thunder-
clap. Mr Blackwood, as usual, had to bear the brunt,
and stands out in the long correspondence that fol-
lows, arguing, soothing, apologising in letter after
letter, evading Martin's demand, yet holding out what
hopes he could that it might be granted, while the true