4LT. 24.] THE * EDINBURGH REVIEW/ 253 



for he had predicted for our journal the fate of the 

 original 'Edinburgh Eeview/ which, born in 1755, 

 died in 1756, having produced only two numbers ! 

 The truth is, the most sanguine amongst us, even 

 Smith himself, could not have foreseen the greatness 

 of the first triumph any more than we could have 

 imagined the long and successful career the Eeview 

 was afterwards to run, or the vast reforms and im- 

 provements in all our institutions, social as well as 

 political, it was destined to effect. The tone it took 

 from the first was manly and independent. When it 

 became as much political as literary, its attitude was 

 upright and fearless: not a single contributor ever 

 hesitated between the outspoken expression of his 

 opinions and the consequences these might entail on 

 his success in life, whether at the bar, the pulpit, or 

 the senate. 



The great importance of the Eeview can only be 

 judged of, by recollecting the state of things at the 

 time Smith's bold and sagacious idea was started. 

 Protection reigned triumphant Parliamentary repre- 

 sentation in Scotland had scarcely an existence the 

 Catholics were unemancipated the test acts unre- 

 pealed men were hung for stealing a few shillings in 

 a dwelling-house no counsel allowed to a prisoner 

 accused of a capital offence the horrors of the slave 

 trade tolerated the prevailing tendencies of the age, 

 jobbery and corruption. 



To the improvement of some, and the removal of 

 others of such evils, the ' Edinburgh Eeview ' has not 



