Your hospitality, which I have twice enjoyed, convinces me that you will not consider this as an intrusion.  My friend, Mr. Murray, of Albemarle Street, London, the most eminent publisher that we have, is about to establish a daily journal of the first importance.  With his great influence and connections, there is no doubt that he will succeed in his endeavour to make it the focus of the information of the whole world.  Among other places at which he wishes to have correspondents is the Rhine, and he has applied to me for my advice upon this point.  It has struck me that Coblentz is a very good situation for intelligence.  Its proximity to the Rhine and the Moselle, its contiguity to the beautiful baths of the Taunus, and the innumerable travellers who pass through it, and spread everywhere the fame of your admirable hotel, all conduce to make it a place from which much interesting intelligence might be procured.

The most celebrated men in Europe have promised their assistance to Mr. Murray in his great project.  I wish to know whether you can point out any one to him who will occasionally write him a letter from your city.  Intelligence as to the company at Wiesbaden and Ems, and of the persons of eminence, particularly English, who pass through Coblentz, of the travellers down the Rhine, and such topics, are very interesting to us.  You yourself would make a most admirable correspondent.  The labour would be very light and very agreeable; and Mr. Murray would take care to acknowledge your kindness by various courtesies.  If you object to say anything about politics you can omit mentioning the subject.  I wish you would undertake it, as I am sure you would write most agreeable letters.  Once a month would be sufficient, or rather write whenever you have anything that you think interesting.  Will you be so kind as to write me in answer what you think of this proposal?  The communication may be carried on in any language you please.

Last year when I was at Coblentz you were kind enough to show me a very pretty collection of ancient glass.  Pray is it yet to be purchased?  I think I know an English gentleman who would be happy to possess it.  I hope this will not be the last letter which passes between us.

I am, dear Sir,

Yours most truly,

B. DISRAELI.

Mr. Maas agreed to Mr. Disraeli’s proposal, and his letter was handed to Mr. Murray, who gave him further instructions as to the foreign correspondence which he required.  Mr. Murray himself wrote to correspondents at Hamburg, Maestricht, Genoa, Trieste, Gibraltar, and other places, with the same object.

The time for the publication of the newspaper was rapidly approaching, and Mr. B. Disraeli’s correspondence on the subject of the engagement of a staff became fast and furious.

By the end of December Mr. Lockhart had arrived in London, for the purpose of commencing his editorship of the Quarterly Review.  The name of the new morning paper had not then been yet fixed on; from the correspondence respecting it, we find that some spoke of it as the Daily Review, others as the Morning News, and so on; but that Mr. Benjamin Disraeli settled the matter appears from the following letter of Mr. Lockhart to Mr. Murray: