Should you, Sir, think the idea worthy of encouragement, I should, with equal pride and willingness, engage my arduous exertions to promote its success; but as my object is nothing short of producing a work of the greatest talent and importance, I shall entertain it no longer if it be not so fortunate as to obtain the high patronage which I have thus taken the liberty to solicit.
Permit me, Sir, to add that the person who addresses you is no adventurer, but a man of some property, and inheriting a business that has been established for nearly a century.

I therefore trust that my application will be attributed to its proper motives, and that your goodness will at least pardon its obtrusion.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your must humble and obedient Servant, John Murray.
So far as can be ascertained, Mr.Canning did not answer this letter in writing.

But a communication was shortly after opened with him through Mr.Stratford Canning, whose acquaintance Mr.Murray had made through the publication of the "Miniature," referred to in a preceding chapter.
Mr.Canning was still acting as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and was necessarily cautious, but Mr.Stratford Canning, his cousin, was not bound by any such official restraints.

In January 1808 he introduced Mr.Gifford to Mr.Murray, and the starting of the proposed new periodical was the subject of many consultations between them.
Walter Scott still continued to write for the _Edinburgh_, notwithstanding the differences of opinion which existed between himself and the editor as to political questions.

He was rather proud of the _Review_, inasmuch as it was an outgrowth of Scottish literature.