The Marchioness, in her answer to the above letter, thanked Mr. Murray for his entertaining answer to her letter, and said: 

Marchioness of Abercorn to John Murray.

“Lord Abercorn says he thinks your conduct with respect to sending books back that he does not like is particularly liberal.  He bids me tell you how very much he likes Mr. Macleod’s book; we had seen some of it in manuscript before it was published.  We are very anxious for Hall’s account, and I trust you will send it to us the moment you can get a copy finished.

“No, indeed! you must not (though desirous you may be to punish us for the severity of the criticism on poor Ellis) keep back for a moment ’Rob Roy’ or the fourth canto of ‘Childe Harold.’  I have heard a good deal from Scotland that makes me continue surmising who is the author of these novels.  Our friend Walter paid a visit last summer to a gentleman on the banks of Loch Lomond—­the scene of Rob Roy’s exploits—­and was at great pains to learn all the traditions of the country regarding him from the clergyman and old people of the neighbourhood, of which he got a considerable stock.  I am very glad to hear of a ‘Life of Leyden.’  He was a very surprising young man, and his death is a great loss to the world.  Pray send us Miss Austen’s novels the moment you can.  Lord Abercorn thinks them next to W. Scott’s (if they are by W. Scott); it is a great pity that we shall have no more of hers.  Who are the Quarterly Reviewers?  I hear that Lady Morgan suspects Mr. Croker of having reviewed her ‘France,’ and intends to be revenged, etc.

“Believe me to be yours, with great regard,

“A.J.  ABERCORN.”

From many communications addressed to Mr. Murray about the beginning of 1818, it appears that he had proposed to start a Monthly Register, [Footnote:  The announcement ran thus:  “On the third Saturday in January, 1818, will be published the first number of a NEW PERIODICAL JOURNAL, the object of which will be to convey to the public a great variety of new, original, and interesting matter; and by a methodical arrangement of all Inventions in the Arts, Discoveries in the Sciences, and Novelties in Literature, to enable the reader to keep pace with human knowledge.  To be printed uniformly with the QUARTERLY REVIEW.  The price by the year will be L2 2s.”] and he set up in print a specimen copy.  Many of his correspondents offered to assist him, amongst others Mr. J. Macculloch, Lord Sheffield, Dr. Polidori, then settled at St. Peter’s, Norwich, Mr. Bulmer of the British Museum, and many other contributors.  He sent copies of the specimen number to Mr. Croker and received the following candid reply: 

Mr. Croker to John Murray.

January 11, 1818.

MY DEAR MURRAY,