Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE ELDER d'iSRAELI. 517
" As you think London gossip desirable," he writes in
the early part of 1823, "I will be a little more on
the outlook for ' that kind of thing,' as our friend
Matthews says."
26 March '23.
Mr D'lsraeli has been quite pleased by your account of his
' Curiosities of Literature.' I. happened to be at a little dance
in his house the evening he received 'Maga.' He had been
looking forward to your account of his book, and came up to
me rubbing his hands and looking so pleased. "Well," said
he, " I have had a letter from Mr Blackwood, and a copy of
his Magazine—have you seen it ?—he speaks of me really in
too flattering a strain. I am quite overcome! and what is
singular, there are some particulars in that article which I
know not how the writer could get at. 'Blackwood's
Magazine' was always to me incomprehensible, and 'tis even
more so now than ever. It is the most puzzling mixture of
information and humbug, of learning and absurdity, that I
have ever met with ; but for me I can only thank Mr
Blackwood for the greatest kindness."
" Blackwood's kindness," echoed a gentleman present, who, I
suspect, was smarting under the lash of Christopher North,
Esq.,— " who can depend upon his kindness ? To-day he will
praise, and to-morrow abuse ; and even his praise is not worth
having, as he is laughing at you all the time !
"
April 1823.
Absurd as it may appear, we Cockneys turn our eyes towards
the northern metropolis for information of our own proceed-
ings. Since D'lsraeli has caused you some fun in the last
number, I may mention that he did not seem displeased by your
jokes. In one note which I have had from him he talks of
riding triumphantly on Hogg's back through the pages of
' Maga,' and adds that the ' Noctes ' seem to have revived with
all their original dramatic spirit, and will have it that Mr Gait
is the creator of the dramatis personce, " whom," he continues,
'* there is no answering, as they answer themselves." In an-
other letter he says, " There is great genius in that publication