Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

IGNOKANCE REGARDING IRELAND. 377
Whig gang so exert themselves, for this chair has been their
stronghold. There was no kind of falsehood, misrepresentation,
and blackguardism which they had not recourse to. For the
last two months we have been kept in continual fever and
bustle. Thank God, it is now happily over. Mr Wilson has
been a grand and most powerful supporter of the Magazine
but he will now have so much to do for some months to come
that I cannot look for much of his assistance. My other friends,
however, will not be the less mindful of ' Maga.' . . .
I wish I had it in my power to show you in any way how deeply
I and my friends feel indebted to you. I have no wish you should
give up your incognito unless you find it perfectly agreeable to
do so ; but I hope you some day will, or at all events that you
will point out to me how I can make you any return for all
your kindnesses. It is not merely that it would give me satisfaction
were you to allow me to offer you the remuneration we
make to our ordinary contributors ; but the hearty goodwill
with which you enter into the very spirit of ' Maga ' lays me
under a weight of obligation which I cannot repay you. Have
you wholly given up your intention of paying us a visit ? I
still hope you will make a run over. ...
W. Blackwood to B. T. S.
Edin., 20 Sep. 1820.
We are sorry the critique on the Irish Peasantry did not
meet your views ; but the fact is, we are utterly ignorant here
as to the real state of Ireland. You may rest assured that it
was from no feeling towards the publishers of the pamphlet
that it was so favourably spoken of; indeed this is the very
thing I am always most jealous of, for I would rather see any
publication of mine, or of any of my friends, cut to pieces in the
Magazine than that there should be the slightest appearance
of favour or partiality—for this is perfect destruction to ' Maga,'
and would render her no better than a petty bookselling job.
We are most anxious, therefore, that you should give full vent
to your feelings on any subject of this kind: we care not though
any article you wrote should even injure us with a portion of
your population, for what we want is fair and free discussion,
as we are confident this will be best in the end. Violent parti-
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