By the aid of the gentlemen who contributed--each his quota--to the
"London Magazine," it acquired much reputation, and a very considerable
sale. During its career of five years, it had, for a certain style of
essay, no superior (scarcely an equal) amongst the periodicals of the day.
It was perhaps not so widely popular as works directed to the multitude,
instead of to the select few, might have been; for thoughts and words
addressed to the cultivated intellect only must always reckon upon limited
success. Yet the Magazine was successful to an extent that preserved its
proprietors from loss; perhaps not greatly beyond that point. Readers in
those years were insignificant in number, compared with readers of the
present time, when almost all men are able to derive benefit from letters,
and letters are placed within every one's reach.

On the death of Mr. John Scott, the Magazine, in July, 1821, passed into
the hands of Messrs. Taylor and Hessey; the former being the gentleman who
discovered the identity of Junius with Sir Philip Francis; the latter
being simply very courteous to all, and highly respectable and
intelligent.

John Scott was an able literary man. I do not remember much more of him
than that he was a shrewd and I believe a conscientious writer; that he
had great industry; was, generally, well read, and possessed a very fair
amount of critical taste; that, like other persons, he had some
prejudices, and that he was sometimes, moreover, a little hasty and
irritable. Yet he agreed well, as far as I know, with the regiment of
mercenaries who marched under his flag.

When Taylor and Hessey assumed the management of the "London Magazine"
they engaged no editor. They were tolerably liberal paymasters; the
remuneration for each page of prose (not very laborious) being, if the