Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 190 Title: Letter from Scott to Murray2, 30 Oct 1808 Author(s): Scott, Sir Walter 2 not on Scotts Life Oct 30 1808 5 Dear Sir Since I had the pleasure of seeing you I have the satisfaction to find that Mr Gifford has accepted the task of editing the intended Review. This was communicated to me by the Lord Advocate who at the same time requested me to write Mr Gifford on the subject. I have done so at great length pointing out whatever occurd to me on the facilities or difficulties of the work in general as well as in the editorial department offering at the same time all the assistance in my power to set matters upon a good footing & to keep them so. I presume he will have my letter by the time this reaches you & that he will communicate with you fully upon the details. I am as certain as of my existence that the plan will answer provided sufficient attention is used in procuring & selecting articles of merit. I have been also turning over in my mind the plan of the Novels & Romances. In my opinion they should be set about without loss of time beginning with the Novels. Richardson Fielding & Smollet will lead the van with a very short memoir of each of their lives & a prefatory Essay on the peculiarities of their stile: These will be followed by a good selection of novels of less name. Those of late date may however be property but I presume that the proprietors for exam =ple of Miss Burneys novels or Mr Ratcliffes may be easily induced to consent to their insertion — I want very much an old catalogue of a large circulating Library (suppose Hookhams or Lanes) to assist my memory in pointing out the works which should be inserted. I have the utmost confidence in this plan succeeding to an extent almost immense & will gladly make you a present of my own time & labour should the work not prove profitable. Dispatch is however the surest fore runner of success. I am endeavouring to get Richardsons Novels — pray send me his Letters lately published. As the criticism will be of a different text & paging the Novels which in double columns may I think be comprized in two or at most three volumes being either 10 or seven 8vo volumes to one of the new Edition. Pray dont omit to pick up old romances & novels & tales & above all keep your plan secret. 6 If you send me any packages before the 12th of next month direct them to Ballantynes care. On that day I must be in Edinburgh as our courts sit down — The time of my London journey is still uncertain but must take place before Xmas. I shewd Mr Rob.t Dundas (presid.t of the Board of [Controul]) our plan of a review & told him I should call on him for a good account of Indian affairs as opportunity shall offer He approves highly as does Mr Canning I am Dear Sir your faithful humble servant Walter Scott Ashestiel by Selkirk 30th October 1808 Octr 30th Ashestiel Scott Walter L.Q.R Dr Gifford Editr [&c] Mr John Murray Bookseller Fleet Street London