this was acceded to with acclamation.I was appointed editor (not formally), and remained long enough in Edinburgh to edit the first number." The most influential writers were Jeffrey, Smith, Brougham, and Horner; but the ruling spirit and the guiding hand was Jeffrey, who now found the sphere for which he was fitted by native taste and capacity, and for which he had been prepared by his whole training in reading miscellaneously and writing systematically, and in his legal learning.Horner describes him at this period, "when the genius of that little man was almost unknown to all but his roost intimate acquaintances.His manner is not at first pleasing; but, what is worse, it is of that cast which almost irresistibly impresses upon strangers the idea of levity and superficial talents.Yet there is not any man whose real character is so much the reverse.He has, indeed, a very sportive {340} and playful fancy; but it is accompanied with an extensive and varied information, and a readiness of apprehension almost intuitive, with judicious and calm discernment, with a profound and penetrating understanding."The starting of the " Edinburgh Review," with its blue and yellow cover, undoubtedly constituted an era in the history of literature.There had been magazines and even reviews, such as the earlier " Edinburgh Review," but none of the same comprehensive, independent, and fearless character.Hitherto literary periodicals had been very much the organs of booksellers; but these bold youths undertook to make the publisher their mere agent, and required him to pay decently for the articles.In the first number seven articles were written by Smith, four by Horner, four commonly ascribed to Brougham, and five by Jeffrey.None of the writers were learned, in the proper sense of the term none of them were engaged in profound investigations: but they were all well informed men, and possessed of brilliant talents, if not of genius.They wrote quickly, easily, clearly, pungently, with quite as much information as their readers wished.The early writers did little fitted to advance science, or the higher forms of literary genius; but they cut down pretension of every kind Unmercifully, and they were ever in favor of good taste and good sense.They have left nothing permanent themselves; but they produced a mighty influence on their own age and through it on the succeeding age.They failed to discover the rising genius of Byron; they did not appreciate Wordsworth; they did not encourage the study of Goethe, and of the great German writers; they ridiculed {341} missionary effort when it appeared in the churches, and proclaimed that heathen nations must be civilized before they can be Christianized, -- as if to teach men that they have a soul were not the most potent means of awakening thought and thereby starting civilization.But the " Review" promoted a healthy tone of writing and a liberal spirit in politics, and helped more than any other literary organ to effect a reform in the legislature.From this Lime forth, Francis Jeffrey became the terror of all authors about to publish, and of all bigoted Tory politicians.While thus an object of dread to strangers, be seems to have been loved by all who knew him.
He was editor of the " Review" for twenty-seven years, and wrote two hundred and sixty-one articles.He published a selection from these in 1843.
Though obnoxious to the government of the day, and without political or family patronage, and not a favorite with some of the old writers to the signet who had the means of sending cases to him or keeping them back, he rose steadily at the bar, and in the course of years stood in the first rank.He was well read in law, was particularly fitted to discuss questions of right and equity, was clear and philosophical in his arrangement, ingenious in his arguments, fluent in utterance, tasteful in language, ready at reply, poignant in repartee, and sharp in his strokes of with judges came to appreciate his legal ability, juries liked his point and life, and church courts enjoyed his ingenious defences of bad causes, which he was often called to defend.
