would be considerable; the pecuniary advantage resulting from the different manner in which my future works would be handled [by the Review] probably still more so.  But my moral feelings must not be compromised.  To Jeffrey as an individual I shall ever be ready to show every kind of individual courtesy; but of Judge Jeffrey of the Edinburgh Review I must ever think and speak as of a bad politician, a worse moralist, and a critic, in matters of taste, equally incompetent and unjust.” [Footnote:  “The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey,” iii. pp. 124-5.] Walter Scott, before long, was led to entertain the same opinion of the Edinburgh Review as Southey.  A severe and unjust review of “Marmion,” by Jeffrey, appeared in 1808, accusing Scott of a mercenary spirit in writing for money (though Jeffrey himself was writing for money in the same article), and further irritating Scott by asserting that he “had neglected Scottish feelings and Scottish characters.”  “Constable,” writes Scott to his brother Thomas, in November 1808, “or rather that Bear, his partner [Mr. Hunter], has behaved by me of late not very civilly, and I owe Jeffrey a flap with a foxtail on account of his review of ‘Marmion,’ and thus doth the whirligig of time bring about my revenges.”

Murray, too, was greatly annoyed by the review of “Marmion.”  “Scott,” he used to say, “may forgive but he can never forget this treatment”; and, to quote the words of Mr. Lockhart:  “When he read the article on ‘Marmion,’ and another on foreign politics, in the same number of the Edinburgh Review, Murray said to himself, ’Walter Scott has feelings, both as a gentleman and a Tory, which these people must now have wounded; the alliance between him and the whole clique of the Edinburgh Review is now shaken’”; and, as far at least as the political part of the affair was concerned, John Murray’s sagacity was not at fault.

Mr. Murray at once took advantage of this opening to draw closer the bonds between himself and Ballantyne, for he well knew who was the leading spirit in the firm, and showed himself desirous of obtaining the London agency of the publishing business, which, as he rightly discerned, would soon be started in connection with the Canongate Press, and in opposition to Constable.  The large increase of work which Murray was prepared to place in the hands of the printers induced Ballantyne to invite him to come as far as Ferrybridge in Yorkshire for a personal conference.  At this interview various new projects were discussed—­among them the proposed Novelists’ Library—­and from the information which he then obtained as to Scott’s personal feelings and literary projects, Murray considered himself justified in at once proceeding to Ashestiel, in order to lay before Scott himself, in a personal interview, his great scheme for the new Review.  He arrived there about the middle of October 1808, and was hospitably welcomed and entertained.  He stated his plans, mentioned the proposed editor of the Review, the probable contributors, and earnestly invited the assistance of Scott himself.