Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

330 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
Queen's Wake ' in seven, will you not allow that I do right in
letting them have such editions as suit their sale ?
I am almost rueing the day that I ever saw you. I have
had letters, newspapers, and magazines poured in upon me
from every part of the country. No one has any right to
publish aught in my name without consulting me. I cannot
be embroiled with the public in this way, and far less right
have others to intermeddle thus publicly with what liberties
I think proper to allow my friends. It is confoundedly hard
that I should be made a tennis-ball between contending parties.
If you can find out by the write or otherwise who the shabby
scoundrel is that writes the enclosed, pray return it to him in
a blank cover.
Eemember, never more mention to me my bargain with any
others. I will bargain with whom I please and when I please,
and for you to tell me your mind on such a subject was anything
but friendly, especially a work which you never had any
connection with, and never wished any.
But, alas ! the Shepherd's high-handed loftiness of
tone soon breaks down in an urgent plea in respect
to a fifty pounds which, whether it is due to him or
not, as an advance upon future work, or on account
of profits reckoned upon with much more confidence
by author than by publisher, is at least very much
wanted. Blackwood was on the eve of a journey to
London, and " if you go away I may be left in the
lurch, having no other certain resource." It would
appear to have been Murray who ought to have paid
this fifty pounds, and there is repeated discussion
whether Mr Scott should be asked to write to him,
or Mr Blackwood to speak to him, which the latter
declines to do. " I dare not let you away without
making sure of the cash," says Hogg. This fifty
pounds, or another, is always cropping up to pull
the Shepherd's spirits down, or to make him feel