magician much money, yet see now, he
hath utterly deserted me. Verily, my fine gold hath
perished."--Chap. iii.]

[Footnote 93: [The story of the composition of _The
Chaldee Manuscript_, its publication in the first number
of the magazine, destined to so long and brilliant a
career, and the extraordinary commotion caused thereby,
is admirably told in the _Annals of a Publishing House_,
which also gives the details regarding Laidlaw's brief
connection with the new periodical, and the
correspondence of Scott and Blackwood during its early
months.--See Mrs. Oliphant's _William Blackwood and His
Sons_, vol. i. chap, iii.]]

As for Whiggery in general, I can only say, that as no man
can be said to be utterly overset until his rump has been
higher than his head, so I cannot read in history of any
free state which has been brought to slavery until the
rascal and uninstructed populace had had their short hour of
anarchical government, which naturally {p.222} leads to the
stern repose of military despotism. Property, morals,
education, are the proper qualifications for those who
should hold political rights, and extending them very widely
greatly lessens the chance of these qualifications being
found in electors. Look at the sort of persons chosen at
elections where the franchise is very general, and you will
find either fools who are content to flatter the passions of
the mob for a little transient popularity, or knaves who
pander to their follies, that they may make their necks a
footstool for their own promotion. With these convictions, I
am very jealous of Whiggery, under all modifications; and I
must say, my acquaintance with the total want of principle
in some of its warmest professors does not tend to recommend
it. Somewhat too much of this. My compliments to the
goodwife. Yours truly,

Walter SCOTT.

TO THE SAME.

Wednesday. [February, 1818.]

DEAR WILLIE,--I have no idea Usher[94] will take the
sheepland again, nor would I press it on him. As my
circumstances stand, immediate revenue is much less my
object than the real improvement of th