I believe, after all, this is the safest course to pursue.

I would beg of you, however, to think maturely upon the affair, taking into account Mr.
Scott's usefulness to the _Review_.

Take a day or two to consider the matter fully, and then give me your best advice....

As to Constable or his triumphs, as he will consider them, I perfectly agree with you that they are not to be coveted by us, and that they should not give us a moment's thought.

Thank God, we shall never desire to compass any of our ends by underhand practices." Meanwhile correspondence with Ballantyne about the work of fiction--the name of which was still unknown-was still proceeding.