Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

372 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
I have not time to point out what would seem to me the proper
line of defence, as I am afraid you would be anxious to hear
from me at once ; but to-morrow I shall send you ample
materials.
Why Mr Lockhart's name has been introduced I know not,
and I am still less able to divine how such a thing can be an
injury to him. His known connection with the Magazine has
of course drawn on him many such suspicions, but they cannot
hurt him. It will be besides very easy for him, I should
imagine, to clear himself from being the author of these letters.
How you do it in Scotland I cannot say, but here we should
laugh at a charge of the kind unless the plaintiff possessed
ample means of proving, not by suspicion but fact, that the
defendant was bond fide connected with the alleged libel. That
Sir Walter Scott— for whom, though I never saw him, I have
the highest reverence, and whose feelings I should be as un-
willing to hurt as those of my dearest friend—has felt angry
on the occasion, I confess vexes me. He, however, must know
that his son-in-law is most unwarrantably brought into the
summons ; and it does not take much sagacity to see that
if he can get this calumny off his shoulders (as of course he
triumphantly can), it will rather be of use than disadvantage
to him. But Sir W. must be aware that not a sentence I said
about Leslie was untrue. How would he think of Tom Paine
if he brought an action against Watson for his Apology for the
Bible ?
What do you wish me to do ? I do not like innuendoes : say
fairly what you think would be fair, and that I shall consider
of, and give you my answer openly without evasion.
As for your fear of your friends deserting you on this occa-
sion, or of their being scared away by such attacks as these, I
do not think so ill of them. If the articles were bad and
malicious, or if they so thought them, they should not have
continued for a moment in connection with a work so disgraced.
If they think them justifiable (as they are), it would be pitiful
to leave you because angry opponents thought proper to intimi-
date you by law, or abuse you through the press. Above all,
fear not that your Magazine is in danger of sinking. If every
known supporter you have were to quit you, you would suffer