Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE SCOTTISH DEFOE. 459
finished before the writing was commenced. The object and
purpose of the plan were to exhibit the actual manners which
about twenty-five years ago did belong to a class of persons and
their compeers in Scotland—the west of it—who are now ex-
tinct. The Laird himself is but one of the group ; and I should
as soon expect to see a painter make a historical picture with
one figure, as an author to tell a story with one character. In
one word, my good friend, I should have thought by this time
that you must have known that nobody can help an author
with the conception of a character nor in the evolutions of a
story ; detached passages and special parts may be improved by
friendly suggestions, but criticism touching the vitals of what
is character or plot rarely if ever improves either the one or the
other. The defects of the ' Annals of the Parish ' were not mine,
though some of the omissions I acknowledge were judicious.
' Sir Andrew Wylie,' the most original of all I have ever done,
was spoiled by your interference, and the main faults of the
* Entail ' were also owing to my being over-persuaded. In one
word, I would much rather throw the whole work a third time
into the fire than begin to cobble any part of it on the sug-
gestions of others. I do not know how it is, but I cannot
proceed if I am interfered with. I know it is very silly to be
so chary, but I cannot help it. It does Tiot come of arrogance
but of confidence in myself. I shall ever feel obliged by special
suggestions, but any hints that would go to the alteration of
plan or character will only vex me and render the task irksome.
I write to you thus freely, both to obviate future causes of
distaste in myself to anything I may hereafter undertake, and
that you may not suppose I have any stronger feeling in
reserve than I have expressed. . . . Now, don't be offended
with my freedom.
This difference of opinion, however, goes on still
through several letters. It seems to have taken much
to rouse this sober Scottish Defoe, but when roused at
last, he stood to his guns steadily. " I do not advert
to your last letter," he says, referring to the answer to
this communication, " having in point of fact not read