CHAPTER XVIII.
ALLIANCE WITH BLACKWOOD--BLACKWOOD'S "EDINBURGH MAGAZINE"-- TERMINATION OF PARTNERSHIP We have already seen that Mr.Murray had some correspondence with Thomas Campbell in 1806 respecting the establishment of a monthly magazine; such an undertaking had long been a favourite scheme of his, and he had mentioned the subject to many friends at home as well as abroad.

When, therefore, Mr.Blackwood started his magazine, Murray was ready to enter into his plans, and before long announced to the public that he had become joint proprietor and publisher of Blackwood's _Edinburgh Magazine_.
There was nothing very striking in the early numbers of the _Magazine_, and it does not appear to have obtained a considerable circulation.

The first editors were Thomas Pringle, who--in conjunction with a friend--was the author of a poem entitled "The Institute," and James Cleghorn, best known as a contributor to the _Farmers' Magazine_.
Constable, who was himself the proprietor of the _Scots Magazine_ as well as of the _Farmers' Magazine_, desired to keep the monopoly of the Scottish monthly periodicals in his own hands, and was greatly opposed to the new competitor.

At all events, he contrived to draw away from Blackwood Pringle and Cleghorn, and to start a new series of the _Scots Magazine_ under the title of the _Edinburgh Magazine_.

Blackwood thereupon changed the name of his periodical to that by which it has since been so well known.