Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

384 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
bosom of the lively society which formed the bodyguard
of ' Maga/ and of which he had become
already, though in the mists of distance and anon-
ymity, so complete a member, entering into all
their jests, and adding both fun and thunder of
his own without scruple or hindrance. Probably
so complete a union never was formed without any
personal knowledge. He outdid them all, which was
saying a great deal, in the recklessness of his jesting
and of the facile pen which ran away with him.
He had, I presume, the charm of Irish frankness,
or apparent frankness, the abandon of manner which
is not always the abandon of the heart ; and he
was received with open arms, and without, it would
seem, the most momentary hesitation. He who had
entered into the very atmosphere of this unknown
place, the dashing Irishman, taking up the very
tone of these gay and reckless Scots with a curious
confusion of traditionary national sentiment, became
more and more one with them after personal acquaintance,—a
union which was quite unchecked by
the fact that Blackwood had presently XI 00 of
damages to pay for one of the first freaks of the
new contributor. With all the differences of age
and temperament, and such a practical hindrance as
this, it is very interesting to see how the Publisher,
who had so much trouble already in holding in these
wild wits, took this new and wildest wit of all into
his heart, and, until the serious stress of years and
the deteriorating influences of an irregular literary
life had broken down all the trust which the most
romantic friendship could have in him, was faithful
to the gay and witty Irishman, to whom he wrote