Edinburgh, _November_ 15, 1808.
Dear Sir, I received two days ago a letter from Mr.Gifford highly approving of the particulars of the plan which I had sketched for the _Review_.

But there are two points to be considered.

In the first place, I cannot be in town as I proposed, for the Commissioners under the Judicial Bill, to whom I am to act as clerk, have resolved that their final sittings shall be held _here_, so that I have now no chance of being in London before spring.

This is very unlucky, as Mr.Gifford proposes to wait for my arrival in town to set the great machine a-going.

I shall write to him that this is impossible, and that I wish he would, with your assistance and that of his other friends, make up a list of the works which the first number is to contain, and consider what is the extent of the aid he will require from the North.