The first John Murray—An Officer of Marines—Retires from Active Service—His marriage—Correspondence with William Falconer—Falconer’s death—Murray purchases Sandby’s business—John Murray’s first publications—Dr. Cartwright—Dr. Langhorne—Mr. Enfield—Dr. Aikin—Mr. Kerr—Thomas Gumming goes to Ireland on behalf of Murray—Prof. J. Millar—Mr. Whitaker—Dr. Gilbert Stuart—The English Review—Defence of Sir R. Gordon—Dr. Gillies—Murray goes to Ireland to sell the Mount Ross estate—His controversy with Mr. Mason—The Edinburgh booksellers—Creech and Elliot—Dr. Cullen—The second John Murray—His education—Accident to his eye—The English Review—John Leslie—Illness and death of the elder John Murray.
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John Murray the Second—“The Anak of Publishers”—His start in business—Murray and Highley—Dissolution of the partnership—Anecdote of Chantrey—Colman’s “John Bull”—Dr. Cartwright—Mr. Joseph Hume—Mr. Bidlake—Archibald Constable—John Murray a Volunteer—Dr. Jenner on Vaccination—Badness of the times—The ‘Revolutionary Plutarch’—Correspondence with Mr. Addington—The D’Israeli family—Isaac D’Israeli’s early works—‘Flim-Flams’—Birth of Benjamin D’Israeli—Projected periodical the Institute—Correspondence of Isaac D’Israeli with John Murray—Murray’s illness. page 29

Archibald Constable & Co.—Alexander Gibson Hunter—The Edinburgh Review—Murray’s early associations with Constable—Dispute between Longman and Constable—Murray appointed London Agent—He urges reconciliation between Constable and Longman—The ‘Miniature’—Stratford Canning—Southey—Mr. Murray visits Edinburgh—Engaged to Miss Elliot—Goes into Forfarshire’—Rude Hospitality—Murray’s marriage—The D’Israelis. page 56

Murray’s business prospects—Acquires a share of ‘Marmion’—Becomes London publisher of the Edinburgh Review—Acquaintance with Walter Scott—Constable’s money transactions—Murray’s remonstrance—He separates from Constable—The Ballantynes—Scott joins their printing business—Literary schemes—The British Novelists—W. Scott’s letters to Murray—Edinburgh ‘Annual Register’—Rundell’s ‘Domestic Cookery’. page 75

Mr. Canning’s early schemes for a Penny Newspaper—The Anti-Jacobin —The Edinburgh Review —John Murray’s letter to Mr. Canning—Walter Scott’s assistance—Southey’s letter to Scott—Review of ‘Marmion’ in the Edinburgh—Murray’s connections—Meeting with James Ballantyne at Ferrybridge—Visit to Scott at Ashestiel—Letters to Scott—Scott’s letters to Murray, Ellis and Gifford on the Quarterly—Arrangements for the first number—Articles by Scott—James Mill—Mrs. Inchbald—Dr. Thomas Young. page 91

Meeting of Murray and Ballantyne at Boroughbridge—Walter Scott’s interest in the new Review—Publication of the first number of the Quarterly—Scott’s proposed ‘Secret History of the Court of James I.’—His ‘Unauthenticated Books’—‘Portcullis Copies’—Old English Froissart—Opinions of the Quarterly—Scott’s energy and encouragement—Mr. George Ellis—Mr. Barre-Roberts—Murray’s correspondence with Mr. Stratford Canning—Murray’s energy—Leigh Hunt—Professor Thomson—James Mill—Gifford’s unpunctuality—Appearance of the second number—Mr. Canning’s contributions—Appearance of No. 3—Letters from Mr. Ellis—Isaac D’Israeli—John Barrow’s first connection with the Quarterly—Robert Southey—Appearance of No. 4. page 139

Murray’s and Ballantyne’s joint interests—Financial difficulties—Murray’s remonstrances—Ballantyne’s reckless speculations—And disregard of Murray’s advice—Revival of Murray’s business with Constable—Publication of the ‘Lady of the Lake’—Murray excluded from his promised share of it—Transfers his Edinburgh agency to Mr. William Blackwood—Publication of No. 5 of the Quarterly—Southey’s ‘Life of Nelson’—Unpunctuality of the Review—Effect on Murray’s health—Letter from I. D’Israeli—Gifford’s review of ‘The Daughters of Isenberg’—His letter to Miss Palmer—Article on Oxford and Coplestone—Dispute between Murray and Gifford—Attacks on the Edinburgh Review by the Quarterly—Murray’s disapproval of them—The Ballantynes and Constables applying for money—Nos. 8 and 9 of the Review—Southey’s Publications—Letters from Scott—His review of the ‘Curse of Kehama’—Southey’s dependence on the Quarterly—His letter to Mr. Wynn. page 170

Increasing friendship between Murray and Gifford—Gifford’s opinion of humorous articles—Mr. Pillans—Macvey Napier—Gifford’s feeble health—Murray’s financial difficulties—Remonstrates with Ballantyne—Resigns his share of the ‘Edinburgh Annual Register’—Correspondence with, and dissociation from Constable—Quarterly Review No. 12—Southey’s review of James Montgomery’s Poems—Southey’s dislike of editorial supervision—Canning’s and Ellis’ review of Fox’s Life—W. S. Landor’s remarks upon the ‘Life of Fox’—Gifford’s severe remarks on Charles Lamb—His remorse—Quarterly Review No. 14—The Rev. H. Phillpotts—Southey on the French Revolution—Murray’s offer to Southey of 1000 guineas for his poem. page 192

Lord Byron’s first acquaintance with Mr. Murray—Mr. Dallas—Acceptance of ‘Childe Harold’—Byron’s visits to Fleet Street—Murray’s letters to Byron—Gifford’s opinion of the Poem—Publication of ‘Childe Harold’—Its immediate success—Byron’s presentation to the Prince of Wales—Murray effects a reconciliation between Byron and Scott—Letters to and from Scott—The address at the opening of Drury Lane Theatre—Murray’s letters to Byron—The ‘Waltz’—Publication of ‘The Giaour,’ ‘Bride of Abydos’ and ‘Corsair’—Opinions of Frere and Gifford—Murray’s correspondence with Byron—Statement in the Courier as to money received by Byron for his works—Mr. Dallas’s and Murray’s replies thereto—Ode to Napoleon—‘Lara’ and ‘Jacqueline’. page 205

Murray’s drawing-room in Albemarle Street—A literary centre—George Ticknor’s account of it—Croker’s poem ‘Talavera’—Madame de Staël—First meeting of Byron and Scott—Recollections of the present Mr. Murray—Napoleon’s escape from Elba—Mr. Murray’s encounter with thieves—Waterloo—Mr. Blackwood’s letter—Suppression of an article written for the Edinburgh—Ticknor’s account of a dinner in Albemarle Street—Mr. Murray’s collection of portraits of authors—Mr. Scott’s visit to Brussels, Waterloo, &c.—Mr. Murray’s visit to Paris with Mr. Basevi—Foreign soldiers in Paris—Their behaviour—Blowing up the Pont de Jena—Miss H. M. Williams—Review of British Army—Sights of Paris—Suard—Sismondi—Gérard—Benjamin Constant—Humboldt—Return home—‘Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk’—‘Mungo Park’s Travels’—Miscellaneous publications—Personal correspondence of Bonaparte—Miss H. M. Williams’ ‘Narrative of Events in France’—D’Israeli’s opinion of it—Benjamin Constant’s work on France—Jane Austen’s Novels—Mr. Malthus’ works—Rev. P. Elmsley, his criticism of the Quarterly—Gifford and Southey—Scott and Constable—Elphinstone’s ‘Cabul’—Murray’s letter to Scott—General literary gossip—Maturin—Letters from W. Scott. page 264

Charles Maturin—His early career—His early publications—And application to W. Scott—Performance of ‘Bertram’ at Drury Lane—Published by Murray—Maturin’s letters to Murray—‘Manuel, a Tragedy’—Murray’s letter to Byron—Death of Maturin—S .T. Coleridge—Correspondence about his translation of ‘Faust’—That work not published—Renewal of the connection—‘Glycine,’ ‘Remorse,’’Christabel,’ ‘Zapolya,’ and other works—Scheme for a review of old books—Further correspondence—Leigh Hunt—Asked to contribute to the Quarterly—Story of ‘Rimini’—Murray’s letters to Byron and Hunt—Negociations between Murray and Leigh Hunt—Madame de Staël—Publication of ‘L’Allemagne’—Gifford’s and Byron’s opinion of her—Madame de Staël’s letters to Murray—Offer of her work on the French Revolution to him—Difficulty about terms—Her death—Letter of the Hon. J. W. Ward—Letter from Mrs. Graham—Anecdote of Mrs. Graham and Mr. Croker. page 292

Thomas Campbell—His early works—Acquaintance with Murray—‘Selections from the British Poets’—Letters to Murray—Proposed Magazine—And Series of Ancient Classics—Close friendship between Campbell and Murray—Murray undertakes to publish the ‘Selections from British Poets’—Campbell’s explanation of the work—‘Gertrude of Wyoming’—Scott reviews Campbell’s poems in the Quarterly—Campbell’s Lectures at the Royal Institution—Delay in preparing his work—Its completion and publication—Campbell’s satisfaction with Murray’s treatment of him—Increase of Murray’s business—Dealings with Gifford—Mr. J. C. Hobhouse—His ‘Journey to Albania’—Isaac D’Israeli’s ‘Character of James I.’—Croker’s ‘Stories for Children’—‘The division of profits—Sir John Malcolm—Increasing number of poems submitted to Mr. Murray—John Wilson’s ‘City of the Plague’—James Hogg—His works—And letters to Murray—The ‘Repository’—Correspondence with Murray—Hogg asks Murray to find a wife for him. page 322

Lord Byron’s marriage—Letters from Mr. Murray during the honey-moon—Mr. Fazakerly’s interview with Bonaparte—Byron’s pecuniary embarrassments—Murray’s offers of assistance—‘Siege of Corinth’—‘Parisina’—Byron refuses remuneration—Pressed to give the money to Godwin, Maturin, and Coleridge—Murray’s remonstrance—Gifford’s opinion of the ‘Siege of Corinth’ and Mr. D’Israeli’s—Byron leaves England—Sale of his Library—The ‘Sketch from Private Life’—Mr. Sharon Turner’s legal opinion—Letter from Dr. Polidori to Murray—Murray’s letter on the arrival of the MS. of ‘Childe Harold,’ Canto III.—His offer of terms—Letters from Mrs. Leigh—Murray’s letters about ‘Tales of my Landlord’—‘Armata’—Sir J. Malcolm— ‘Antar’s Tales,’ &c.—Letter from Sharon Turner—Scott’s letters about his review of ‘Childe Harold’ in the Quarterly—Letters from Lady Byron, Lady Caroline Lamb, and Mrs. Graham—‘Manfred’—Murray’s letter to Byron—‘Manuscrit venu de Ste. Helene’—Southey’s ‘Wat Tyler’—Fourth Canto of ‘Childe Harold’—Letter from Murray—Death of Mme. de Staël, &c.—Difference between Lord Byron and Murray—Letter from Mr. Hobhouse. page 350

Byron’s last letter to Murray—His death—Letter of the Dean of Westminster respecting the burial in the Abbey—The funeral—Letter from Lady C. Lamb—Her correspondence with Byron—The story of the Byron Memoirs—The MS. given to Moore—Who sold it to Murray—On Byron’s death they become Murray’s absolute property—Letter from Barrow—The destruction of the MS.—Mrs. Leigh’s letter to Mr. Hodgson—Mr. Murray’s letter to Mr. R. Wilmot Horton on the destruction of the Memoirs—Letter from Mr. T. Mitchell—‘Medwin’s Conversations’—Letter from Mr. Sharon Turner—Moore’s preparations for a Life of Byron. page 433

Origin of Blackwood’s Magazine—Murray’s share in it—Letters from Blackwood—Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn—Opposition of Constable—John Wilson and J. G. Lockhart—Sensation created by the ‘Chaldee MS.’—Authorship of the article—Murray’s remonstrances with Blackwood—Attacks on ‘The Cockney School of Poetry’—Murray’s renewed protests—His correspondence with Blackwood on the subject—Hazlitt’s threatened action—‘Hypocrisy Unveiled’—Injudicious conduct of Lockhart and Wilson—Murray’s vexation at the incident—Anonymous pamphlet against Murray—Progress of Hazlitt’s action—Settlement of the dispute—Continued personalities in the Magazine—‘Peter’s Letters to his Kinsfolk’—Murray’s renewed protests—He withdraws from the Magazine—Oliver and Boyd become Murray’s Edinburgh agents. page 475