Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

FOOLISH TO RETURN MONEY. 301
The courteous publisher repHed in the same strain
of high politeness and lofty feeling :
W. Blackvjood to J. Wilson.
Saturday, Dec. 1826.
Since you think it best (and your wishes will always be my
rule) to return me the draft, I hope you will with the same
frankness draw on me from time to time. My anxious wish is
that the Magazine should really be an object worth your attend-
ing to, both as respects remuneration, respectability, and general
influence.
It is no doubt annoying that Eobinson has not been able to
do his article at this particular moment, but if you can find
leisure to do what you intend, the number will be much more
popular, and the cessation from politics for one month will
have no bad effect. Perhaps, however, you may land upon
something political connected with literature. I cannot help
still thinking that if Croly's critique upon Sheridan's Dramas
were altered and shortened, and a spirited view given of Moore's
life in your own admirable way, it would be a most delightful
article. But I do not wish to suggest anything except what
wholly strikes yourself.
Another time, however, the Professor was less coy.
" I keep the twenty guineas," he says, " as it is foolish
to return money. But it would be a little Jewish or
so to consider my articles worth forty guineas, and,
therefore, I will give you a good sheet or two for
your next, if required, gratis. Money is an excellent
stimulant to all virtuous actions."
E/obinson appears from time to time, sometimes
applauded, sometimes much the reverse. Here is an
instance of the difficulties which all contributors had
to pass through :
—
The beginning of E is beastly. He is quite mad on one
Idea. But possibly what he says about the Poor Laws may be
—