Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

424 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
curious being, so elf- like in all his ways, and the
serious and sensible publisher, whose almost boundless
toleration for shortcomings of another character made
him perhaps the more impatient of this fine-spoken
and helpless apologist, were rather stormy. Mr
Blackwood welcomed him to the Magazine in his
usual courteous way, with that enthusiasm for literary
ability which made him so eager in his reception of
every able and eloquent new contributor : yet had
many disappointments to undergo ere he could be
got into harness.
W. Blackwood to T. De Qiiincey.
Edinburoh, Avjguit 26, 1820.
It is a remark warranted by reason, not to mention a higher
sanction, that " hope deferred maketh the heart sick." I shall
still, however, hope against hope that you will yet fulfil your
long bygone engagement to the Magazine. I am the more en-
couraged to expect this from what you mentioned in a letter to
the Professor the other day. Whatever you choose to send,
whether long or short, will always be acceptable. By desire of
Professor "Wilson I send you Dr Brown's work on Cause and
Efifect, trusting that I will have the pleasure of hearing from
you ere long.
This agreeable mood continues for some time ; and
on December 18 of the same year Mr Blackwood
seems to welcome a contribution with the same
pleasure with which he had anticipated one. De
Quincey by this time had come to Edinburgh, for the
note is addressed to Northumberland Street :
W. Blackwood to T. Be Quincey.
I am so happy to receive anything from you that your two
pages appear like the 24 of any one else, because, now that you
are fairly begun, I feel confident that you will do justice to
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