Our names are what Murray principally wants--_yours_ in particular....

I will not wish, even in confidence, to say anything ill of the London booksellers _beyond their deserts_; but I assure you that, to compare this offer of Murray's with their usual offers, it is magnanimous indeed....

The fallen prices of literature-which is getting worse by the horrible complexion of the times-make me often rather gloomy at the life I am likely to lead.
Scott entered into Campbell's agreement with kindness and promptitude, and it was arranged, under certain stipulations, that the plan should have his zealous cooperation; but as the number and importance of his literary engagements increased, he declined to take an active part either in the magazine or the other undertaking.

"I saw Campbell two days ago," writes Murray to Constable, "and he told me that Mr.Scott had declined, and modestly asked if it would do by _himself_ alone; but this I declined in a way that did not leave us the less friends." At length, after many communications and much personal intercourse, Murray agreed with Campbell to bring out his work, without the commanding name of Walter Scott, and with the name of Thomas Campbell alone as Editor of the "Selections from the British Poets." The arrangement seems to have been made towards the end of 1808.

In January 1809 Campbell writes of his intention "to devote a year exclusively to the work," but the labour it involved was perhaps greater than he had anticipated.