290 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



like this number, and that you will be in good spirits to do some- 

 thing very soon for next one. I fully expected to have had the 

 pleasure of a letter from you either yesterday or to-day. 



" A letter from you, however short, is always a treat. The can- 

 vass for the Provostship is as hot as ever, but the result does not 

 now appear so certain as when I last wrote you ; still, I do not de- 

 spair, and I trust we shall be successful. 



"I am, my dear sir, yours truly, W. Blackwood." 



Mr. Lockkart's temporary disgust at magazine writing did not 

 affect his productive activity. Very soon after writing the foregoing 

 letter, he was hard at work writing articles for Janus, which began 

 to be printed early in September, and was published about the close 

 of November, 1825. The various letters which passed between the 

 editors and the publisher on the subject are entirely occupied with 

 the details of " MS.", " slips," "proofs," and "forms." They con- 

 tain, however, the materials for ascertaining the contributions of the 

 two principal writers, a list of which will be found in the Appendix. 

 The following letter from my father to Delta is given, as being the 

 first communication between them which I have found, and as illus- 

 trating his mode of discharging the delicate duty of telling a friend 

 that his MS. is not " suitable." It is also his first letter dated from 

 Gloucester Place : — 



" Gloucester Place, No. 8, Friday. 



" My dear Sir : — On my arrival here, a few days ago, I found 

 in the hands of Messrs. Oliver and Boyd, an extract from a tale in- 

 tended for Janus. As I take an interest in that volume, I trouble 

 you with a few lines, as I know your handwriting. 



" I had intended writing to you to request a contribution to Ja- 

 nus, but delayed it from time to time, uncertain of the progress that 

 double-faced gentleman was making towards publicity. 



" Copy for 350 pages is already hi the printer's hands, and I have 

 about 120 pages of my own MS., and of a friend, to send in a few 

 days, which, owing to peculiar circumstances, must make part of the 

 volume, so that 470 pages may be sivpposed to be contributed. A 

 number of small pieces too are floating about, which it is not easy 

 to know how to dispose of. 



" I am, however, anxious that something of yours should be hi 

 this volume, and if it be possible, there shall be, if you wish it. 



