Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

440 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
that they never could recur. The following will show
that, through all the experience of a dozen years, he
never got any assurance as to what was, as we should
say now, " the last day " on which he could send in
/his " copy." That slang was happily little used, if
indeed it was invented, in De Quincey's day.
T. De QuiTicey to W. Blackwood.
Tuesday morning.
It would be idle to deny that your note gave me great pain
much from the immediate disappointment ; but more by a good
deal from the alarming prospect opened to me in two expres-
sions—supposing that I understood them rightly. But it is
very possible that I may not do so. And at any rate I am sure
you will be glad, by a word or two of explanation, to prevent
any future misapprehension on points of so much importance
at this moment.
1. From one expression, if I do not take it in a wider mean-
ing than you designed, I collect—that the payment of articles
is to be contingent (as regards the tinu) upon the time of pub-
lication; for you say as a reason (if I understand you) for
delaying payment,—that " it has not been in my power to make
use of any portion of it." Now the rule hitherto laid down
(and acted upon) by yourself has been—that this non-use was
not to affect the payment, unless it arose by some neglect of
mine in putting the article into a state for publication. And
formerly, as well in conversations as in letters, both yourself
and Prof. Wilson have been used to complain of my inquiring
about the time of publication—as a matter in which I could
have no personal interest. Am I to understand that this rule
is changed?
2. You speak of yourself as being " not a little pressed for
money." Now of course it is not my purpose to inquire in the
remotest way into your affairs ; but do you wish me to understand
that, for the present, other demands upon yourself make
it needless for me to exert myself in writing ? And, if so, for
how long a time do you wish me to understand that restriction
as operating ?
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