918 , 65 : 20 – 22.
The proposed rejection by an important periodical as early as 1699 of reviews that through their tediousness might interfere with the sale of books opened but did not close a question that
still will not down. There has always been a suspicion that publishers look with kindly eye on all periodicals giving favor able notices of their publications,14 and the suspicion becomes certainty in the case of publishers who are rivals. Walter Scott wrote to Sharpe, December 30, 1808 , apropos of the Quarterly that was intended as a rival to the Edinburgh that “ if it contains
criticism not very inferior (to the Edinburgh ] in point of talent, with the same independence of booksellers' influence (which has
ruined all the English Reviews), I do not see why it should not divide with it the public favor.” 15 Brougham was sure that his
connection with the Edinburgh Review boded ill for a fair criticism
of his recent book and he wrote to James Loch, June 19 , 1803, “ The reviews will allmurder me on acct. of the E . Rev., and it is unlucky enough that my connection with the latter prevents all
possibility of justice being done me there.” 16 Henry Coburn , under date of December 31, 1827, wrote to William Jerdan, then editing the Literary Gazette, that he was about to be connected with the Athenaeum “ in consequence of the injustice done to my authors generally (who are on a liberal
side), by the 'Literary Gazette'. I cannot any longer consent to see my best authors unfairly reviewed , and my own property injured, and often sacrificed to the politics of that paper.” 17 Jerdan himself, although thus rebuked , questions whether any
journal can be carried on with perfect freedom and uninfluenced by any outward circumstances, personal regard and attach ment, literary connections, and friendly interferences must have
an effect in enhancing praise , and moderating blame; " and, in a baser manner, rivalry, envy , and malignity will, in some instances , 14 Edward Bulwer says that Voltaire complained that booksellers in France and Holland guided the tone of the periodical reviews. - England and the English, II , 18. Note. 15 Letters from and to C . K . Sharpe, I, 351.
16 R . H . M . B . Atkinson and G . A . Jackson , Brougham and His Early Friends, II , 67 – 70 .
17 William Jerdan , Autobiography, IV, 68. The courts have sometimes been called on to decide questions involving adverse criticism .
