LITERATURE. BLACKWOOD^ MAGAZINE. 191 



But much of his censure went home to the mark, and he pledged 

 himself, in conclusion, if the subjects of his criticism did not amend 

 their ways, to return to the charge " with less reserve, and more 

 personal effect."* Who the author of this philippic was remained 

 a secret, but there is now no reason to doubt that he was himself 

 a well-known member of the legal body. His allusions to Wilson 

 and Lockhart were too pointed to be passed without notice, and 

 both sought redress in the mode then considered necessary for the 

 vindication of the character of gentlemen. The author of the 

 pamphlet received these communications as might have been ex- 

 pected, he declined to reveal his identity, but printed the corres- 

 pondence.! 



* In furtherance of this purpose he announced as preparing for publication "A Letter to the 

 Dean and Faculty of Advocates on the propriety of expelling the Leopard and the Scorpion from 

 that hitherto respectable body." 



t From the Scotsman, Saturday, October 24, 1818 : 



u To the Author of Hypocrisy Unveiled. 



« g IR : _As it is no part of a manly disposition to use insulting epithets to an unknown enemy, 

 who may perhaps have resolved to remain unknown, I shall not, at present, bestow any upon 

 you. So long as you remain concealed you are a nonentity ; and any insults offered by me to a 

 person in that situation might probably not be felt to carry with them any degradation to him, 

 and certainly would not be felt as conferring any triumph upon me. It is probable, however, 

 that yon will come forward from your concealment, when you feel that you cannot continue in 

 it without the consciousness of cowardice. I therefore request your name and address, that I may 

 send a friend to you to deliver my opinion of your character, and to settle time and place for a 

 meeting, at which I mav exact satisfaction from you for the public insults you have offered tome. 



"53 Queen Street, Friday, Oct. 23, ISIS." "John Wilson. 



" To the Author of Hypocrisy Uwoeiled. 



"Sir:— I have no wish to apply epithets of insult to you till I know who you are. If you 

 suppose yourself to have any claim to the character of a gentleman, you will take c;ue that 1 be 

 not long without this knowledge. I remain, sir, your obedient servant, 



"23 Maitland Street, Thursday, Oct. 22, 1818." "J- G. Lockhart. 



" To John Wilson, Esq., Advocate. 



" Friday, 23d October: 



»Sie:— The note which I understand to have been forwarded to you by my publisher, will 

 have explained why I did not receive your communication till within these few hours. 



"If you be not a principal conductor or supporter of Black/wood's Magazine, you have no 

 reason for addressing me. If you be not the author or furnisher of materials for an attack on 

 Mr. M'Cormick, which you yourself stated to be highly unjustifiable, and of which you denied 

 all knowledge vpon your honor ; if you be not the author of a most abusive attack on your 

 friend, Mr. Wordsworth; if you did not, by an unfounded story, prevail with Mr Blackwood's 

 former editors to insert that attack ; if you be not the secret traducer of Mr. Playfair, Mr. Haz- 

 litt. and Mr. Coleridge; if you be not the wanton and cruel reviler of those gentlemen named 

 in my pamphlet, with whom you had lived in habits of friendship; if you be not one of the 

 principal vomitories of that calumnious and malignant abuse which has, through the medium of 

 Blackwood's Magazine, been poured out on all that is elevated, worthy, or estimable; if you be 

 not the writer of one or other of the letters addressed in the name of Z. to Mr. Leigh Hunt, and 

 if you do not take shelter under a quotation from Junius, and submit to be publicly stiginatiz.d 

 by him as a coward and a scoundrel,— then you have nothing to say to me, for I speak only of the 

 writer or writers who have committed these enormities. But if all or any of these things apply 



