'I write to you on the following occasion:--Some time ago, perhaps nearly two years ago, Mr. Hill, a lawyer, published a book on Education, detailing a plan on which his brothers had established a school at Hazlewood, in Warwickshire. This book I reviewed in the _London Magazine_, and in consequence received a letter of thanks from the Author, who, on my coming to London about midsummer last year, called on me. I have since become intimate with him, and, excepting that he is a sad Jacobin (as I am obliged to tell him once or twice a month), I have no one fault to find with him, for he is a very clever, amiable, good creature as ever existed; and in particular directions his abilities strike me as really very great indeed. Well, his book has just been reviewed in the last _Edinburgh Review_ (of which some copies have been in town about a week). This service has been done him, I suppose, _through_ some of his political friends--(for he is connected with Brougham, Lord Lansdowne, old Bentham, etc.),--but I understand _by_ Mr. Jeffrey. Mr. Hill, in common with multitudes in this Babylon--who will not put their trust in Blackwood as in God (which, you know, he ought to do)--yet privately adores him as the Devil; and indeed publicly too, is a great _proneur_ of Blackwood. For, in spite of his Jacobinism, he is liberal and inevitably just to real wit. His fear is--that Blackwood may come as Nemesis, and compel him to regorge any puffing and cramming which Tiff has put into his pocket, and is earnest to have a letter addressed in an influential quarter to prevent this. I alleged to him that I am not quite sure but it is an affront to a Professor to presume that he has any connection as contributor, or anything else, to any work which he does not publicly avow as his organ for communicating with the world of letters. He answers that it would be so in him,--but that an old friend may write _sub rosa_. I rejoin that I know not but you may have cut Blackwood--even as a subscriber--a whole lustrum ago. He rebuts, by urging a just compliment paid to you, as a supposed contributor, in the _News of Literature and Fashion_, but a moon or two ago. Seriously, I have told him that I know not what was the extent of your connection with Blackwood at _any_ time; and that I conceive the labours of your Chair in the University must now leave you little leisure for any but occasional contributions, and therefore for no regular cognizance of the work as director, etc. However, as all that he wishes--is simply an interference to save him from any very severe article, and not an article in his favour, I have ventured to ask of you if you hear of any such thing, to use such influence as must naturally belong to you in your general character (whether maintaining any connection with Blackwood or not) to get it softened. On the whole, I suppose no such article is likely to appear. But to oblige Hill I make the application. He has no _direct_ interest in the