Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

284 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
you say, I thought had all been well over. One thing I must
say: when, after seeing Wordsworth and Wilson together in
such a friendly style, I came down here and found on my table
that 'Noctes,' I could not understand Wilson's having been
able to act as I had just been seeing him do. However, this is
nothing to the matter, altho' I confess it gives me more pain
than any merely pecuniary punishment he ever can undergo
for the squib about Martin. I suspected that blockhead would
be up, from what he said the other day about Black and the
' Morning Chronicle.' Bold man is he to dare both the Whig
and the Tory press, if he persists.
His action, if brought in London, would not be worth thinking
of comparatively; but the Jury Court is another business. I
trust the Professor will write some good - humoured thing
sufficient to settle the madman's vanity. If he does not, / ivill
try what I can do upon again hearing from you, and seeing
what he says. Meantime by all means have Maginn's opinion.
If the worst come to the worst, I think the man who neglects
one of the largest and most dreary estates of miserable Ireland,
where scarcely a man has clothes to cover his nakedness, and
keeps up a roar about cruelty to Horses and Bullocks in the
London Police Courts, will not be likely to come very well off
if properly buckled to, even before a jury of Adamites. It is a
great thing for you that the ' Morning Chronicle ' is in the same
scrape.
I am sadly afraid from what appeared in yesterday's 'New
Times ' that you are to have more trouble about Martin. If I
can do anything, I am at your command ; but really the Pro-
fessor ought to attend to his own business. Maginn's behaviour
is most generous. Sorry indeed should I be to see him placing
me under such an obligation, and I trust Wilson will take a
proper view of the case. I myself would not, coilte que coMe,
allow this ; and besides, it will be of no use. One thing is
obvious, that no disgrace can come to you or the Magazine from
the business—the idiocy of Martin being so notorious. Wilson
cannot suffer you to have any loss in your purse. Therefore
don't, after doing your best, permit this thing to worry or annoy
your mind. He would never get heavy damages most certainly.