agitation, of undertaking a Review by itself. I was always of opinion that the Edinburgh Magazine and Review would have done better without the Magazine part; and it will not sell the worse when you deprive it of that appendage.

BUT, although I like your idea of a Review by itself, it has some difficulties to overcome in its establishment, which I shall just run over as they occur to me.

1mo, You will consider that there does not appear to be sale at present in England for two reviews; for I look upon the Critical Review as barely to pay expences.

2do, A new Review will have to compete with the Monthly, a publication which is conducted with the greatest care and attention by Mr GRIFFITH, who dedicates his whole time to the management and conduct of it.

3tio, The publication of an Edinburgh Review must be a month later in its appearance than the London ones; and so will be behind in its account of books.

THESE are the objections that I see just now to your plan, but which by care may be overcome; but it must be very great care, and pains, and attention.

A METHOD of review for the large and small articles should be settled and adhered to in the execution of the work, with regard to their length, the extracts, and the manner of reviewing.

A MONTH before publication, a considerable sum of money should be laid out in advertising in the London papers, and in the country papers of England, to the amount at least of sixty pounds.

THE number of London Reviews sold in Scotland should, if possible, be ascertained, in order to calculate the probability of your success there.

It might also be taken into consideration whether an Edinburgh Review could be furnished for sixpence. No plates are necessary; and this price would give it an evident superiority one way over the London ones; and the price may be raised, with little danger, after the first year. If I mistake not, the

Monthly was a sixpenny publication at the beginning.

A CALCULATION should be made of the expence of publication, under the following heads:

1. Copy money.

4. Advertising.

2. Paper.

3. Printing.

5. Contingencies.

It should be settled what person is to furnish books, and keep an exact list of all publications, which he must regularly scratch off as they are reviewed, and as often take notice of those that may be omitted.

WHAT I have mentioned I mean only as hints for the consideration of you and the partners. It may serve in part to give you a view of what is to be expected from the undertaking, and to prepare the proprietors, after they have come to a resolution of proceeding, to be assiduous and active in their different departments.

I THINK, from my situation, and my acquaintance with different gentlemen of taste

and learning, that I can prove of some service to the scheme, if it takes place. And, as it is long since I told you that I liked the idea of a Review much better than I did that of a Magazine, so I have no objection to take a share in the intended work, if it shall be found agreeable; and my attention and pains, as publisher, shall be as great as I can make them. Write me therefore at your convenience, as I am impatient to receive an account of this design at length. I am, &c.

J. MURRAY.

MR MURRAY, who was London publisher of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, was a very respectable and eminent bookseller in Fleet Street, London; where he succeeded to the business of Mr MILLAN, a Scotsman, who, to accommodate himself to the prejudices of the English, formerly strong against the Scots, changed his original name of MacMILLAN, by dropping the patronymic Mack, signifying son of. MACLIN the famous comedian, who was an Irishman, had, in a somewhat similar manner, changed his name of MACLANE to MACLIN; and ALMACK, a Scotsman well known in the fashionable end

of the town, by keeping a famous subscription-house in Pall Mall, nearly opposite the palace of St Jameses, altered his name from M'CAUL. The original name of Mr JOHN MURRAY was MACKMURRAY, under which name he served his country for several years as an officer of marines; and being reduced upon half-pay at the close of the war which ended in 1763, he purchased the stock in trade and good will of Mr MILLAN, then lately deceased, and imitated him in dropping the northern Mack. He was succeeded in business at his death by his son, the present Mr JOHN MURRAY, who now carries on the bookselling business extensively in the same shop in Fleet Street

As Dr GILBERT STUART was a man of great learning and splendid talents, and a writer of much eminence and reputation in his day, a more extended account of him than could with propriety be introduced in this place, as connected with the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, will be found at the close of the present discussion.

DURING the time of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, a note appeared in that pub