But his historical sense was aroused to suspicion by the story of William Tell, which he boldly sets down as a fable.

Altogether, one may pronounce the sketch to be pleasantly written in a flowing, picturesque narrative, and showing immense advance in style beyond the essay on the Study of Literature.

David Hume, to whom he submitted it, urged him to persevere, and the advice was justified under the circumstances, although one cannot now regret that it was not followed.
After the failure of this scheme Gibbon, still in connection with Deyverdun, planned a periodical work under the title of _Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne_.

Only two volumes ever appeared, and the speculation does not seem to have met with much success.
Gibbon "presumes to say that their merit was superior to their reputation, though they produced more reputation than emolument." The first volume is executed with evident pains, and gives a fair picture of the literary and social condition of England at the time.

The heavy review articles are interspersed with what is intended to be lighter matter on the fashions, foibles, and prominent characters of the day.
Gibbon owns the authorship of the first article on Lord Lyttelton's history of Henry the Second, and his hand is discernible in the account of the fourth volume of Lardner's work _On the Credibility of the Gospel History_.