The common Reviews, before the appearance of the _Edinburgh_, had become extremely mawkish; and, unless when prompted by the malice of the bookseller or reviewer, gave a dawdling, maudlin sort of applause to everything that reached even mediocrity.

The _Edinburgh_ folks squeezed into their sauce plenty of acid, and were popular from novelty as well as from merit.

The minor Reviews, and other periodical publications, have _outred_ the matter still further, and given us all abuse and no talent....

This, therefore, we have to trust to, that decent, lively, and reflecting criticism, teaching men not to abuse books, but to read and to judge them, will have the effect of novelty upon a public wearied with universal efforts at blackguard and indiscriminating satire.

I have a long and very sensible letter [Footnote: Given below, under date November 15, 1808.] from John Murray, the bookseller, in which he touches upon this point very neatly." Scott was most assiduous in his preparations for the first number.