TORY NEWSPAPER 1 225 years before, a personal volume by a traveller, one Simond, in which Scotch Tories had suffered grievous things. It is only necessary to add that an unlucky description of the Black Bull Inn, as noisy and untidy, led to legal proceedings, and Lockhart had to pay £400 of damages, without going into court. "Lockhart's account of the inn is very correct," says a friend already quoted, who remembers "The Black Bull," but toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire. On October 31, 1819, I find Lockhart writing to Scott, from Edinburgh, about his endeavours to obtain an editor for a new Tory newspaper. The Scotsman of the period was probably thought to need an antidote. To abridge a mere letter of business, Lockhart had asked Christie to invite Mr. Murray of the Times to take the vacant post. Mr. Murray was in all respects well qualified, as a political writer, and a man acquainted with the material side of newspaper publication. But Mr. Murray's connection with a well-established and successful London paper made him hesitate, and, finally, decline. Lockhart also consulted Wilson, "who appears to enter into it with all his Among critics who, like Scott, did not reckon Peter's book a pestilent libel, was that respectable authority, Dr. Jenkyns, Master of Balliol. "Peter's Letters' have been much read in the South," writes the Master, "and with great pleasure, which I felt at the perusal of them. I could not help recognising the connection between Dr. Morris and our portly friend of Ystraed Meirie." (Williams.) The Master then invites Lockhart to stay with him at Balliol. 2 Scott's "Letters," ii. 97. VOL. I. P |