4/34 to John Murray_. Mr.Scott is at this moment busy with two articles, besides the one he has sent. In conversation a few days since, I heard a gentleman ask him, 'Pray, sir, do you think the _Quarterly Review_ will be equal to the _Edinburgh_ ?' His answer was, 'I won't be quite sure of the first number, because of course there are difficulties attending the commencement of every work which time and habit can alone smooth away. But I think the first number will be a good one, and in the course of three or four, _I think we'll sweat them!_'" The first number of the _Quarterly Review_ was published at the end of February, 1809. Like most first numbers, it did not entirely realize the sanguine views of its promoters. |