LITERARY AND DOMESTIC LD7E. 367 



fame than 7" have done, let me know in what region of the moon he 

 has taken up his abode. But let the ' Noctes' drop, or let us talk 

 upon that subject, if you choose, that we may find out which of us 

 is insane, perhaps both. 



" Show this letter to the Grays — our friends — and let them say 

 whether or not it be reasonable, and if any good is likely to result 

 from my services. I have written of my own accord, and without 

 any authority from Mr. Blackwood, but entirely from believing that 

 his kindness towards you would dispose him to make the matter up 

 at once, on the one condition which, as an honest man, I would 

 advise him to consider essential, and without which, indeed, he 

 could not listen to any proposal. I am, my dear sir, your affec- 

 tionate friend, John Wilson." 



" My dear Mr. Hogg : — Your letter in answer to mine is written 

 as mine was, in a friendly spirit ; but on considering its various 

 contents, I feel that I can be of no use at present in effecting a re- 

 conciliation between you and Mr. Blackwood. I was induced to 

 offer my services by my own sincere regard for you, and by the 

 wishes of Mrs. Izett and Mr. Grieve ; but it rarely happens that an 

 unaccredited mediator between offended friends in a somewhat 

 complicated quarrel can effect any good. Should you, at any future 

 time, wish me to give an opinion in this matter, or advice of any 

 sort, you will find ine ready to do so with the utmost sincerity. I 

 will merely mention to Mr. Grieve, who was desirous of having 

 you and Mr. Blackwood and myself to dinner, that I wrote you, 

 and had an answer from you ; but I shall leave you to tell him or 

 not, as you please, what passed between us. That I may not fall 

 into any unintentional mis-statement, I will likewise tell Mr. Black- 

 wood the same, and no more, that I may not do more harm than 

 good by having taken any step in the affair. If you never have 

 made any accusation of the kind I mentioned against Mr. Black- 

 wood, then am I ignorant of the merits of the case altogether, and 

 my interference is only an additional instance of the danger of vol- 

 unteering counsel, with erroneous impressions of the relative situa- 

 tion of the parties. I proposed a plan of reconciliation, which 

 seemed to me to make no unpleasant demand on either party, and 

 which was extremely simple ; but it would seem that I took for 

 granted certain accusations or insinuations against Mr. Blackwood's 



