324 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



About this time I find another letter from Mr. Lockhart, referring 

 to the contest for the University of Oxford in 1829, when Sir Robert 

 Peel was unseated : — 



" London, 24 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, 

 Sunday. 



" My dear Wilson : — I am exceedingly anxious to hear from 

 you, firstly about Landor, what you have done, or what I really 

 may expect to count on, and when f You will see Blanco White's 

 review ere this reaches you. I think it won't do, being full of cox- 

 combry, and barren of information, and in all the lighter parts 

 mauvais genre. It's, however, supported by all the Coplestons, 



Malthuses, etc. ; and to satisfy • , I must make an exertion, in 



which, as you love me, give me your effectual aid — for you can. I 

 know you will. 



" I take it for granted you have been applied to both for Peel 

 and Inglis. What do you say on that score ? I am as well pleased 

 I don't happen to have a vote. To have one, would cost me near 

 £100 ; more than I care for Peel, Inglis, and the Catholic Question, 

 triajuncta in uno. The Duke now counts on forty majority in the 

 Lords, but his cronies hint he begins to be sorry the opposition out 

 of doors is so weak, as he had calculated on forcing, through the 

 No Popery row, the Catholics to swallow a bill seasoned originally 

 for the gusto of the Defender of the Faith. 



"How are you all at home ? Ever yours, 



" J. G. Lockhart. 



" P. S. — If you go to Oxon, come hither imprimis, and I will go 

 with you." 



The next letter is addressed to Mr. De Quincey, dated June, 

 1829, and alludes to the "sketch of the Professor," of which I have 

 made partial use in a previous chapter : — 



"Sunday Evening, June, 1829. 

 " My dear De Quincey : — I had intended calling at the Nab to- 

 morrow, to know whether or not you had left Edinburgh ; but 

 from the Literary Gazette, received this morning, I perceive you 

 are still in the Modern Athens. I wish, when you have determined 

 on coming hitherwards, that you would let me have intimation 

 thereof, as an excursion or two among the mountains, ere summer 

 fades, would be pleasant, if practicable. 



