The fact must be obvious to you,--that if Mr.Canning, Mr.Frere, Mr.Scott, Mr.Ellis, and Mr.
Gifford, with their immediate and true friends, will exert themselves heartily in every respect, so as to produce with secrecy only _one_ remarkably attractive number, their further labour would be comparatively light.

With such a number in our hands, we might select and obtain every other help that we required; and then the persons named would only be called upon for their information, facts, hints, advice, and occasional articles.

But without this--without producing a number that shall at least equal, if not excel, the best of the _Edinburgh Review_, it were better not to be attempted.

We should do more harm to our cause by an unsuccessful attempt; and the reputation of the _Edinburgh Review_ would be increased inversely to our fruitless opposition....

With respect to bookselling interference with the Review, I am equally convinced with yourself of its total incompatibility with a really respectable and valuable critical journal.