give
a portion of his time to rendering some assistance in the management of
the proposed newspaper. As Sir Walter Scott had been taken into their
counsels, through the medium of Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Murray proceeded to
correspond with him on the subject. From the draft of one of Mr.
Murray's letters we extract the following:

_John Murray to Sir Walter Scott_.

_October_ 13, 1825.

MY DEAR SIR WALTER,

I feel greatly obliged by the favour of your kind letter, and for the
good opinion which you are disposed to entertain of certain plans, of
which you will by degrees be enabled to form, I hope, a still more
satisfactory estimate. At present, I will take the liberty of assuring
you, that after your confidence in me, I will neither propose nor think
of anything respecting Mr. Lockhart that has not clearly for its basis
the honour of his family. With regard to our Great Plan--which really
ought not to be designated a newspaper, as that department of literature
has hitherto been conducted--Mr. Lockhart was never intended to have
anything to do as editor: for we have already secured two most efficient
and respectable persons to fill that department. I merely wished to
receive his general advice and assistance. And Mr. Lockhart would only
be known or suspected to be the author of certain papers of grave
national importance. The more we have thought and talked over our plans,
the more certain are we of their inevitable success, and of their
leading us to certain power, reputation, and fortune. For myself, the
heyday of my youth is passed, though I may be allowed certain experience
in my profession. I have acquired a moderate fortune, and have a certain
character, and move now in the first circles of society; and I have a
family: these, I hope, may be some fair pledge to you that I would not
engage in this venture with any hazard, when all that is dearest to man
would be my loss.

In order, however, to completely obviate any difficulties which have
been urged, I have proposed to Mr. Lockhart to come to London as the
editor of the _Quarterly_--an appointment which, I verily believe, is
coveted by many of the highest literary characters in the country, and
which, of itself, would entitle its possessor to enter into and mix with
the first classes of society. For this, and without writing a line, but
merely for performing the duties of an editor, I shall have the pleasure
of allowing him a thousand pounds a year; and this, with