Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CRITICISM INVITED. 511
tude " was entirely inapplicable between Baldwin, the
proprietor of the ' Standard,' and himself, as each had
equally served the other.
W. Blackwood to Dr Gifford.
Edinburgh, 22nd Nov. 1827.
All my friends respect you, and hope the ' Standard ' will be
successful, I do so also, most sincerely : but I am forced to
say that by ceasing to allude to, quote from, or commend my
Magazine, you have placed both myself and iny friends in an
unpleasant situation. The Public must see that you have
ceased to do that which you formerly often did : and you have
frankly intimated to me that until my Magazine again speaks
of the * Standard,' and that in the way you wish, I must not
expect you to praise it as you did in former times. I shall be
extremely sorry for this, as I know the value of your able commendation
: but your resolution has certainly something of the
character of imposition of terms, which would do away with the
grace and pleasure of praise. Should any of the gentlemen
who write in my Magazine of themselves speak highly of the
' Standard,' it will give me much pleasure : but I shall not
consider myself entitled to suggest the subject to any of them
again, as I should then feel that I was asking them to do something
which must be done, or the penalty incurred of your
discountenance.
I must pause to put in here a good-humoured little
note addressed to the editor of a Glasgow paper, now
most eminent and of large circulation, taking a very
different view of such matters :
W. Blackwood to Samitel Hunter, ' Herald ' Office, Glasgow.
I admit most freely that the sneers by Tickler and the C. N.
notes are very thoughtless and uncalled for. You would do
quite right in giving us a good dressing. I have only to repeat
that while I know there was no intention to sneer at your
paper, yet as the thing is so unguarded and general, you would
do quite right in giving us a good cut, and I hope you know me
well enough to believe that I would be the last person in the
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