Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

288 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
he exposed both publisher and publication, Wilson
was indeed the mainspring of the Magazine, and the
chief upholder of all that was most precious to the
ambition, and important in the career, of the friend
whose fidelity to him was never shaken, whatever
might occur, and who never lost an occasion of cele-
brating his good deeds. The following letter has all
the greater weight as coming immediately after the
Martin episode : and it reveals in a most engaging
manner the close connection between the two men,
and the deep and warm feeling in Mr Blackwood's
heart, ready to forget the peccadilloes which he had
so often to pardon and condone :
W. Blackwood to J. Wilson.
—
Edinbttrqh, nth, Dec. 1825.
I have sent Mrs Wilson the Magazine, and I trust she will
be as much delighted with it as I am, and that is saying a
great deal.
How deeply I am indebted to you, it is quite impossible for
me to express. Anxious and restless as I always am at all
times, I was more especially so just now ; but I felt it cruel, as
you were so unwell, even to wish you to make an exertion
still I could not help my wishes, and nobly and most effectively
have you gone beyond them. Great as the advantages must be
to me at such a moment to publish such a number, it is not on
this account that I feel so happy ; but it is from the delight I
always have had, and always will have, in seeing you doing what
no one else can attempt but yourself. So much is this feeling,
as it were, a part of my nature, that by a sort of momentary
mental delusion I think of your articles as if I had been capable
of producing them myself: sure I am I could not feel more
proud of them if I had been capable of producing them. You
will excuse all this, which I could not help saying to you in the
fulness of my heart.
And you will also, I hope, pardon me for saying that the
Magazine is now going on so well I trust I will every day have
: