Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE ESSAYS OF ELIA— "SILLY PIECES." 501
his book, and considers that you have through his sides aimed
a deadly blow at all scientific and legitimate cookery.
Wilson's 'Valerius' [adds the annalist, whose conception
of the group of writers in Edinburgh seems less clear than
his knowledge of their English contemporaries] has not had
fairplay in London : it is an admirable book, but I cannot
describe the malevolent hatred cherished against this gentleman
by the Cockneys, on the supposition that he assists in managing
your Magazine. Nor is Mr Gait much less the object of their
detestation. Every personal allusion or offensive paragraph in
your work is forthwith attributed to him. And if his works
were not generally received here as the productions of Mr
Lockhart, they would perhaps stand a still less chance of
having justice done them than is the case at present.
Mr Watts, however, was not an amiable critic,
and there are many hard sayings scattered through
these curious charts of the obscure London coteries
of the day.
Charles Lamb [he says, speaking of another Magazine]
delivers himself with infinite pain and labour of a silly piece
of trifling, every month, in this Magazine, under the signature
of EHa. It is the curse of the Cockney School that, with all
their desire to appear exceedingly off-hand and ready with
all they have to say, they are constrained to elaborate every
petty sentence, as though the web were woven from their own
bowels. Charles Lamb says he can make no way in an article
under at least a week.
This prodigious budget would seem to have pleased
Mr Blackwood, whose next communication was so
satisfactory that Alaric begins at once to unfold his
plans for being of service to the publisher and his
Magazine :
—
The Thatched Cottage,
Walham Green, near London, Janary 29, 1822.
Now that we understand each other, I may venture one or
two points in which I can be of use to you. It is my wish,