140 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. LXI.
MR. WILLIAM MARTIN,
BOOKSELLER AND AUCTIONEER IN EDINBURGH.
MR. MARTIN, who was well known and extensively patronised in his profession,
is here represented in the attitude of disposing of a picture, surrounded by
an audience of literary gentlemen, connoisseurs in the fine arts. The heads are
all likenesses of characters elsewhere sketched by Kay, and will be easily distinguished
by the reader as the succeeding numbers of the Portraits appear,
Martin, or " Bibles," as he was commonly called, is supposed to have been
born at or near Airdrie, about the year 1744;' and like his contemporary,
Lackington of London, was originally bred a shoemaker. For several years
after he came to Edinburgh, Martin occupied a small shop in the High Street,
near the head of the West Bow, where he combined the two very opposite professions
of bookseller and cobbler. He also frequented the country towns around
Edinburgh on fairs and other market-days, exposing his small stock of books
for sale; and, by dint of great perseverance and industry, was soon able to
'withdraw his allegiance from Crispin altogether, and to devote the whole of
his attention to the sale of books.
His burgewticket
is dated 1786-but he must have been well established in business many years
previously. From a letter of condolence written by him to the widow of his
brother, who died in America, he appears to have been in thriving circumstances
so early as 1782. He says, " The awfully sudden and unfortunate death of my
brother-the helpless situation in which you were left, and so many fatherless
children-situate in a country surrounded with war and devastation, my
thoughts thereupon may be more easily conceived than described. * * *
My uneasiness has been much increased by the thoughts of the boy coming to
me, that I might receive him safely, and that he might escape the dangers of so
long a voyage. Indeed it has been the will of Providence to take all my children
from me, and my intention is to adopt him (his nephew) as my own son.
My situation in business I have no cause to complain of. I have a shop in the
bookselling way in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh, to which occupation I mean
to put William, my namesake, and in which I hope he will do very well. I will
give him the best education, and he shall be as well clothed as myself. * * *
My wife has been very much indisposed for some time bypast, and is not yet
much better. She is most anxious about William, and wishes much to see
him, from which you may conclude his arrival would make us both very happy.''
It is uncertain at what period Martin came to Edinburgh.
He used to boast that he was in arm during the Rebellion 1745.