Walter Scott was now making his appearance as an author; Constable had published his "Sir Tristram" in May 1804, and his "Lay of the Last Minstrel" in January 1805.

Large numbers of these works were forwarded to London and sold by Mr.Murray.
At the end of 1805 differences arose between the Constable and Longman firms as to the periodical works in which they were interested.

The editor and proprietors of the _Edinburgh Review_ were of opinion that the interest of the Longmans in two other works of a similar character--the _Annual Review_ and the _Eclectic_--tended to lessen their exertions on behalf of the _Edinburgh_.

It was a matter that might easily have been arranged; but the correspondents were men of hot tempers, and with pens in their hands, they sent stinging letters from London to Edinburgh, and from Edinburgh to London.

Rees, Longman's partner, was as bitter in words on the one side as Hunter, Constable's partner, was on the other.