“Of those who might be intrusted in the first instance you are a much better judge than I am.  I think I can command the assistance of a friend or two here, particularly William Erskine, the Lord Advocate’s brother-in-law and my most intimate friend.  In London, you have Malthus, George Ellis, the Roses, cum pluribus aliis.  Richard Heber was with me when Murray came to my farm, and, knowing his zeal for the good cause, I let him into our counsels.  In Mr. Frere we have the hopes of a potent ally.  The Rev. Reginald Heber would be an excellent coadjutor, and when I come to town I will sound Matthias.  As strict secrecy would of course be observed, the diffidence of many might be overcome.  For scholars you can be at no loss while Oxford stands where it did; and I think there will be no deficiency in the scientific articles.”

Thus instructed, Gifford proceeded to rally his forces.  There was no want of contributors.  Some came invited, some came unsought; but, as the matter was still a secret, the editor endeavoured to secure contributions through his personal friends.  For instance, he called upon Mr. Rogers to request him to secure the help of Moore.

“I must confess,” said Rogers to Moore, “I heard of the new quarterly with pleasure, as I thought it might correct an evil we had long lamented together.  Gifford wishes much for contributors, and is exceedingly anxious that you should assist him as often as you can afford time....  All this in confidence of course, as the secret is not my own.”

Gifford also endeavoured to secure the assistance of Southey, through his friend, Mr. Grosvenor Bedford.  Southey was requested to write for the first number an article on the Affairs of Spain.  This, however, he declined to do; but promised to send an article on the subject of Missionaries.

“Let not Gifford,” he wrote to Bedford, in reply to his letter, “suppose me a troublesome man to deal with, pertinacious about trifles, or standing upon punctilios of authorship.  No, Grosvenor, I am a quiet, patient, easy-going hack of the mule breed; regular as clockwork in my pace, sure-footed, bearing the burden which is laid on me, and only obstinate in choosing my own path.  If Gifford could see me by this fireside, where, like Nicodemus, one candle suffices me in a large room, he would see a man in a coat ‘still more threadbare than his own’ when he wrote his ‘Imitation,’ working hard and getting little—­a bare maintenance, and hardly that; writing poems and history for posterity with his whole heart and soul; one daily progressive in learning, not so learned as he is poor, not so poor as proud, not so proud as happy.”

Mr. James Ballantyne to John Murray.

October 28, 1808.

“Well, you have of course heard from Mr. Scott of the progress of the ‘Great Plan.’  Canning bites at the hook eagerly.  A review termed by Mr. Jeffrey a tickler, is to appear of Dryden in this No. of the Edinburgh.  By the Lord! they will rue it.  You know Scott’s present feelings, excited by the review of ‘Marmion.’  What will they be when that of Dryden appears?”