On the contrary, the articles on science and miscellaneous literature ought to be of such a quality as might fairly challenge competition with the best of our contemporaries.
But as the real reason of instituting the publication is the disgusting and deleterious doctrine with which the most popular of our Reviews disgraces its pages, it is essential to consider how this warfare should be managed.

On this ground, I hope it is not too much to expect from those who have the power of assisting us, that they should on topics of great national interest furnish the reviewers, through the medium of their editor, with accurate views of points of fact, so far as they are fit to be made public.

This is the most delicate and yet most essential part of our scheme.
"On the one hand, it is certainly not to be understood that we are to be held down to advocate upon all occasions the cause of administration.
Such a dereliction of independence would render us entirely useless for the purpose we mean to serve.

On the other hand, nothing will render the work more interesting than the public learning, not from any vaunt of ours, but from their own observation, that we have access to early and accurate information on points of fact.

The _Edinburgh Review_ has profited much by the pains which the Opposition party have taken to possess the writers of all the information they could give them on public matters.