Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

322 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
ideas. I have neither written nor corrected a line since I left
Edinburgh, and as I never intend returning to it for any length
of time, I think I may safely predict without the spirit of
prophecy that you have seen the best, and most likely all, of my
productions that you ever will see. They have gained me but
little fame and far less profit ; and certainly the most graceful
way of giving up the contest is to retire indignant into my
native glens, and consort with the rustic friends of my early
youth. This is no rhodomontade, my dear sir, but the genuine
sentiments of my heart at this time. Do not, however, neglect
to favour me still with a reading of all new works in my own
way. I will return the ' Melodies,' but I will keep this and the
future Nos. of the ' Eeview,' and you or Murray may debit me
with it as cheap as you like. The ' Melodies ' bear a few striking
touches of a master's hand, but there are some of them feeble,
and I think they must be Lady B.'s. She is not equal to Moore
for Melodies. I am still harassed with visitors, most of them
what you Edinburgh people would call great skemps ; but there
have been a few here whom I was truly glad to see, among
whom I may mention Wilson, and Ballantyne^ in Kelso, whom
you know I very much admire : but though the weather was
delightful, and though he testified the highest delight with the
scenery of our lakes, he was not at all in his usual spirits.
Pray let me hear from you on every emergency, if it were but
two or three lines ; the oftener the better. We have no post
nor any carrier from this, and I neither know how nor when I
am to get this letter carried. Query, Am I to get any new
editions betwixt this and the New Year ? Is ' The Thistle and
the Eose ' abandoned for ever ?
The works that followed were scarcely so successful
as ' The Queen's Wake,' and Hogg's letters are chiefly
occupied by the announcement of ineffective volumes
and negotiations for their publication. He was intro-
duced to Mr Murray by Blackwood, and apparently
raised an interest in the mind of that gentleman
who took a share with Mr Blackwood in several of his
^ The Ballantynes began business in Kelso.
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