The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
Nv.

we mubt ClOe0 Lnlb nOClc0 Win D glance q
ono more Of the contributors to Blaok,uood'o
Magazine. We have already referred to Cole.
ridge, between whom and De Quincy there
were many points of likeness. including
even o certain similarity of handwrit.
ing. though tho tiny scribbled notes Of the
Opium Eater were very different from the
elder authors foolscap. Most readers are, NO
doubt. familiar with tho strange adven.
lures and stranger existence of De Quin.
cey. the pseudo high life of his begin.
ming, and the pitiful. hopeless poverty OF
his end. In his correspondence with Will
liam Blackwood, we hear of his privationS, OF
his wanderings from one lodging to another, Of
his being sometimes waylaid in his bed by o
curious creditor and OF his sometimes suffering
torture for want Of a box Of seidlitE powdertI
always he gives an elaborate explanation to the
publisher. who never refuses the necessary dole.
Of how, in the extraordinary combinations OF
again. 1t was through Prof. Wilson that De
who welcomed him to the magazine In his usual
courteous way. but had many tribulations to
into harness. For example. in January. 1921,
the publisher writes: 81 must tell you frankly
viii W Y" neit thes sDswe moy Your G' own oVTn'I purpose ss''f nor
mine. For instance, this article, which you
have :. not yet finished; you positively promised
o'clock; No doubt, you may, have had many un.
av9ida6le causes for the delay; still. this iS
sdheros to his own engagements. expects equal
EnneotH aInssv in r. thGss who engage n with ai slm;"
with you; In this case, I am gagged, having paid
away your ten guineas, which am now heerti.
Quincy was rash enough to write to B~lackwood
i E istse Of y fb %h maaa ne severely |Hy w sFi,19is sdd r fSeRe
hart do not put themselves forward Tor the
magazine, lforesee that the entire weight OF sup
spS SstiiEg it INT m st T %Sst on he my its sh S,Ias For | sec
cepting our, friend Gillies's translation from
a cursed dull thing. though and excepting that
spirited political article at the end, II more
dreary collection OF dulncss and royal stupidity
never did this world sec gathered together than
would sink any work in the world; No, moi I
see clearly that must write it all myself ex;
n few pages to the other man. This was tho
sort oftalk to touch Blaekwood in his tendcrcss
can only excuse your letter. which received to.
E MHs, by So sup Wro,1 'hS W6 yon !, Were HpGly nn ao YOU " TO 10
t n@e Atlas isS OF &r my m n: M%s" il VIII GS !i%s Snouss
for you to undertake the burden. In the mean
sems m m"s sn SGE iSsS Sc 10 say In in 4 ES' E snshSs
Lakes il will GO quite unnecessary for you 10
give yourself any further ironoie about inc
to the heart, and sent II very me k and contrite
answer. According TO Mrs. oliphnnt, however;
the interchanges of mmskctry went on withont
any prolonged pause. There are. II seems, stu
~ existence a multitude OF fceting little notes,
like scraps Of papcr out OF a waste basket, al
about the endless manufacture OF articles and
equally endless small payments. with innumcr-
able apologies and applications. showing elabo-
rately. from the authors viewpoint, how this
and that were the sole things possible to be done.
Dc Quincy rarely permitted the ordinary price
of q piece of work TO reach him unhrokcn, nor
conveyed that piece of work entire to tho print.
ing Office. Meanwhile he necessarily pTofessed
TO he tho most punctilioua. the most regular. tho
most formal Of men, always ready TO an hour.
guilty, OF no irregularity, only too rigorous IN
his adherence to every point Of cSactitudc.
the fact. Of course, being that he was tho
reverse Of all these things. Dc Quincy went
on, for many years. in u long succession OF com:
plants, explanations. misundcrst Andings and
tbanksgiyings, all mingled and cvcr-recurriDg.
not withdrawing his conviction every time, that