The contributors were behindhand; an article was expected from Canning on Spain, and the publication was postponed until this article had been received, printed and corrected.

The foundations of it were laid by George Ellis, and it was completed by George Canning.
Of this article Mr.Gifford wrote: "In consequence of my importunity, Mr.Canning has exerted himself and produced the best article that ever yet appeared in any Review." Although Mr.Gifford was sometimes the subject of opprobrium because of his supposed severity, we find that in many cases he softened down the tone of the reviewers.

For instance, in communicating to Mr.Murray the first part of Dr.Thomson's article on the "Outlines of Mineralogy," by Kidd, he observed: _Mr.Gifford to John Murray_.
"It is very splenitick and very severe, and much too wantonly so.

I hope, however, it is just.

Some of the opprobrious language I shall soften, for the eternal repetitions of _ignorance, absurdity, surprising,_ etc., are not wanted.