In December 1815 Mr. Murray published “Emma” for Miss Jane Austen, and so connected his name with another English classic.  Miss Austen’s first novel had been “Northanger Abbey.”  It remained long in manuscript, and eventually she had succeeded in selling it to a bookseller at Bath for L10.  He had not the courage to publish it, and after it had remained in his possession for some years, Miss Austen bought it back for the same money he had paid for it.  She next wrote “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Pride and Prejudice.”  The latter book was summarily rejected by Mr. Cadell.  At length these two books were published anonymously by Mr. Egerton, and though they did not make a sensation, they gradually attracted attention and obtained admirers.  No one could be more surprised than the authoress, when she received no less than L150 from the profits of her first published work—­“Sense and Sensibility.”

When Miss Austen had finished “Emma,” she put herself in communication with Mr. Murray, who read her “Pride and Prejudice,” and sent it to Gifford.  Gifford replied as follows: 

Mr. Gifford to John Murray.

“I have for the first time looked into ‘Pride and Prejudice’; and it is really a very pretty thing.  No dark passages; no secret chambers; no wind-howlings in long galleries; no drops of blood upon a rusty dagger—­things that should now be left to ladies’ maids and sentimental washerwomen.”

In a later letter he said: 

September 29, 1815.

“I have read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ again—­’tis very good—­wretchedly printed, and so pointed as to be almost unintelligible.  Make no apology for sending me anything to read or revise.  I am always happy to do either, in the thought that it may be useful to you.

* * * * *

“Of ‘Emma,’ I have nothing but good to say.  I was sure of the writer before you mentioned her.  The MS., though plainly written, has yet some, indeed many little omissions; and an expression may now and then be amended in passing through the press.  I will readily undertake the revision.”

Miss Austen’s two other novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion,” were also published by Murray, but did not appear until after her death in 1818.  The profits of the four novels which had been published before her death did not amount to more than seven hundred pounds.

Mr. Murray also published the works of Mr. Malthus on “Rent,” the “Corn Laws,” and the “Essay on Population.”  His pamphlet on Rent appeared in March 1815.

Murray’s correspondence with Scott continued.  On December 25, 1815, he wrote: 

“I was about to tell you that Croker was so pleased with the idea of a Caledonian article from you, that he could not refrain from mentioning it to the Prince Regent, who is very fond of the subject, and he said he would be delighted, and is really anxious about it.  Now, it occurs to me, as our Edinburgh friends choose on many occasions to bring in the Prince’s name to abuse it, this might offer an equally fair opportunity of giving him that praise which is so justly due to his knowledge of the history of his country....