confidence,--and why should I not add?--with the innocent gratification of whose little vanities--his own pecuniary interests were often deeply connected. A very little personal contact would have introduced such a character as Blackwood's to the respect, nay, to the affectionate respect, of Scott, who, above all others, was ready to sympathize cordially with honest and able men, in whatever condition of life he discovered them. He did both know and appreciate Blackwood better in after-times; but in 1816, when this communication reached him, the name was little more than a name, and his answer to the most solemn of go-betweens was in these terms, which I sincerely wish I could tell how Signior Aldiborontiphoscophornio translated into any dialect submissible to Blackwood's apprehension:-- DEAR JAMES,-- I have received Blackwood's impudent proposal. G---- d---- his soul! Tell him and his coadjutor that I belong to the Black Hussars of Literature, who neither give nor receive criticism. I'll be cursed but this is the most impudent proposal that ever was made. W. S.[39] [Footnote 39: _May_, 1839. Since this book was first published, I have received from the representatives of Mr. Blackwood several documents which throw light on the transaction here mentioned. It will be apparent from one of those I am about to quote, that Blackwood, before he sent his message to Jedediah Cleishbotham, had ascertained that no less a person than Mr. Gifford concurred in his opinion--nay, that James Ballantyne himself took the same view of the matter. But the reader will be not less amused in comparing the "Black Hussar's" missive in the text, with the edition of it which actually reached Blackwood--and which certainly justifies the conjecture I had ventured to express. TO WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, ESQ. EDINBURGH, 4th October, 1816. MY DEAR SIR,--Our application to the author of _Tales of my Landlord_ has been anything but successful; and in order to explain to you the reason why I must decline to address him in this way in future, I shall copy his answer _verbatim_:-- "My respects to our friends the Booksellers. I belong to the Death-head Hussars of Literature, who neither _take_ nor _give_ criticism. I am extremely sorry they showed my work to Gifford, nor would I cancel a leaf to please all the critics of Edinburgh and London; and so let that be as it is: They are mistaken if they think I don't know when I am writing ill, as well as Gifford can tell me. I beg there may be no more communications with critics."