The other circumstance is, that Mr.
Gifford pleads the state of his health and his retired habits as sequestrating him from the world, and rendering him less capable of active exertion, and in the kindest and most polite manner he expresses his hope that he should receive very extensive assistance and support from me, without which he is pleased to say he would utterly despair of success.

Now between ourselves (for this is strictly confidential) I am rather alarmed at this prospect.

I am willing, and anxiously so, to do all in my power to serve the work; but, my dear sir, you know how many of our very ablest hands are engaged in the _Edinburgh Review_, and what a dismal work it will be to wring assistance from the few whose indolence has left them neutral.

I can, to be sure, work like a horse myself, but then I have two heavy works on my hands already, namely, "Somers" and "Swift." Constable had lately very nearly relinquished the latter work, and I now heartily wish it had never commenced; but two volumes are nearly printed, so I conclude it will now go on.

If this work had not stood in the way, I should have liked Beaumont and Fletcher much better.