Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

340 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
in a hurry, the hrouillon, according to Blackwoodian
custom, hot and strong, being written upon the back
of the culprit's letter:
—
W. Blackwood to J. Ballantyne.
All that I have to say in answer to your note, which I have
this moment read, is that if your former letter meant anything,
it certainly meant that you were to be the judge of what it was
fitting for you to print. And while I think it is right and
proper for every man to reject or retain any employment that
may be offered to him, it quite revolts against all my feelings
to be placed in such an alternative as you so positively announce
to me in your letter. What I would have reckoned both kind
and proper of you at any time was to tell me when any article
struck you as objectionable, both on your account and my own
and if you then found me unreasonable, or thought at any rate
I was so, aYid that you would be injured even by printing such
a thing, though no way responsible as publisher, you could then
act as you thought best. But really, in the first instance, to
tell me plump that you must decline, &c., does not appear to me
like what I should have expected from you.
However, nothing more need be said. ^^&
Ballantyne seems to have conquered any desire he
may have had to reply, and everything went on as
before : but the little exhibition of character on both
sides—the one, conscious of being no common printer,
a little showy and explanatory, bent on flourishing his
flag, the other decisive in cutting it down—affords an
amusing episode. It is referred to in a letter from
Blackwood to Hogg further on. The article in
question was published, with a note appended from
Christopher North, to the effect that it was all a joke,
and possibly written by the Shepherd himself—which,
we presume, was intended to be conciliatory. But
fortunately it is not at all necessary to enter into so
;