ies of editorship.

"EDINBURGH, 17 May, 1834.

"DEAR SIR,--Yours of the 13th makes me feel very much
ashamed at having so long delayed answering your two former
favors. The truth is, that you have given me such a bill of
fare of what you could furnish for our monthly
entertainment, I felt it would be necessary to write you
more at length than I had leisure for at the time I received
your letter; and, like everything that is delayed at the
proper moment, every day has presented excuses for
procrastination.

"If I had the pleasure of knowing you, I might have been
able, as you say, to have given you some hints as to
subjects; but in present circumstances, all I have to say
is, that _whatever is good in itself we are always happy to
receive_, [&c., &c., as hereinbefore quoted in relation to
"Christopher North."] I shall only add, that anything of
yours he will be disposed to view with a favorable eye. As
to the theatre, exhibitions, &c., the daily papers are so
stuffed with notices of them, that even what is good has but
a poor chance. However, I do not mean to say that these
subjects should be excluded from your communications; all I
mean is, that you should just write upon what you yourself
feel a strong interest in.

"I _would_ be happy to see your novel, ["Brother Jonathan,"]
but it is now too late of thinking to publish at this
season. If you will send it, addressed to me, to Mr.
Cadell's, with a note, desiring it to be forwarded by first
mail-coach, I _will_ receive it quite safely; and I will, in
the course of ten days after its reception, write you my
sentiments with regard to it. No one shall see it; for in
these matters I judge for myself. If you should go to the
Continent, perhaps you could leave the manuscript in such a
state that it could be printed in your absence.

"I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

"W. BLACKWOOD."

Here was encouragement, certainly; and it was clear enough that he had a
willingness to be pleased, if nothing more.

I lost no time, therefore, in recasting and rewriting the whole of
"Brother Jonathan," which, as I have mentioned before, was blocked out
before I left America. But, having my board to pay, and not willing to
stake much o