Memoir of John Murray
Walter Scott to John Murray, 2 November 1808
I transmitted my letter to Mr.
Gifford through the Lord
Advocate, and left it open that Mr.
Canning might read it if he thought it worth while. I have a
letter from the ![]()
| POLITICS OF THE ‘QUARTERLY.’ | 103 |
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Advocate highly approving my views, so I suppose you will very soon hear
from Mr. Gifford specifically on the subject. It is a
matter of immense consequence that something shall be set about, and that
without delay. I am truly surprised at the inexhaustible activity of Mr. Cumberland’s spirit. His proposed
Review *
cannot be very long-lived—I hope ours stands a better chance of
longevity. I am truly vexed at being kept in my present state of uncertainty
concerning my motions southwards.
The points on which I chiefly insisted with Mr. Gifford were that the Review should be independent both as to
bookselling and ministerial influences—meaning that we were not to be
advocates of party through thick and thin, but to maintain constitutional
principles. Moreover, I stated as essential that the literary part of the work
should be as sedulously attended to as the political, because it is by means of
that alone that the work can acquire any firm and extended reputation.
Moreover yet, I submitted that each contributor should draw
money for his article, be his rank what it may. This general rule has been of
great use to the Edinburgh Review. Of terms I said nothing, except that
your views on the subject seemed to me highly liberal. I do not add further
particulars because I dare say Mr.
Gifford will show you the letter, which is a very long
one.—Believe me, my dear Sir, with sincere regard,
Your faithful, humble Servant,
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
Richard Cumberland (1732-1811)
English playwright and man of letters caricatured by Sheridan as “Sir Fretful Plagiary.”
Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by himself was published
in two volumes (1806-07).
William Gifford (1756-1826)
Poet, scholar, and editor who began as a shoemaker's apprentice; after Oxford he
published
The Baviad (1794),
The Maeviad
(1795), and
The Satires of Juvenal translated (1802) before becoming
the founding editor of the
Quarterly Review (1809-24).
London Review. (1809). Edited by Richard Cumberland; only two numbers appeared; in a departure from usual
practice the reviews were signed.
The Quarterly Review. (1809-1967). Published by John Murray, the
Quarterly was instigated by Walter
Scott as a Tory rival to the
Edinburgh Review. It was edited by
William Gifford to 1824, and by John Gibson Lockhart from 1826 to 1853.
