Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CHARACTER OF THE NEWSPAPER. 515
off-hand remarks on novels, manners, and points of humour,
may be regarded as an addition to as perfect a compilation of
newspaper information of every kind as respectable and culti-
vated families could desire, or ever was contained in one sheet
of paper.
. . . The ' Atlas ' is a pure commercial speculation by betting
people in the city. The ' Spectator ' is not a mere commercial
speculation: having myself invested a large sum of my own,
and obtained the support of most respectable friends to a still
greater amount to establish the concern, I, of course, am anxious
that this capital shall not be lost ; but there is not one of us
myself, contributors, or supporters as capitalists—who is not
even more anxious that our success should tend to elevate and
improve the tone of the newspaper press.
This is a digression ;
but it seems of sufficient interest
to warrant admission. The two friends had coolnesses,
as was perhaps inevitable. Christopher, I fear, though
he " hinted an intention" of noticing the new venture
in December, just at the moment when it was most
important, did not carry out that laudable intention
—
reminding us of Blackwood's regretful remark, that if
a subject was not taken up with the whole heart and
soul, it was apt to be laid aside and abandoned. And
E-intoul was slow of reviewing a work of Wilson's :
but yet these offences were mutually excused and condoned.
Whether ' Maga ' ever did anything to push
the fortunes of the new-born journal I am unable to
say, but the correspondence continued for some time
on the most friendly terms.
Another correspondent of Mr Blackwood deserves
a record, not for his literary aid, but for those letters
of private news and gossip which the circle in Edin-
burgh prized so highly, which often helped in the com-