BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 473
No, CCCXXIX?
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE, ESQ.
THE illustrious citizen of Edinburgh here represented has, not without good
claim, been styled “ the Prince of Publishers.” He was born on the 24th
February 1774 in the parish of Carnbee, Fifeshire, where his father was a
farmer and manager of the estates of the Earl of Kellie. He was descended of
good family, and there was even a trace of nobility in his blood, at all events
it may fairly be said that he inherited a noble soul. Like most geniuses who
have risen from comparative obscurity to fame and fortune, he gave early
indication of the bent of his mind, and after attending the parish school (the
only education he seems to have received) he was at his own request apprenticed
to Mr. Peter Hill, a bookseller in Edinburgh of considerable standing, who, with
other advantages, could boast of being one of the friends and correspondents of
Burns. He had no sooner commenced his duties than he showed an enthusiasm
for everything connected with books, so much so that his master entrusted him
with tasks much more important than usually fall to the lot of a beginner.
At Hatton House, Midlothian, a seat of the Earl of Lauderdale, he was employed
to catalogue a valuable library (a description of work for which he showed an
early aptitude), and here it seems his natural love of old books first got vent.
The term of apprenticeship, usually dull and monotonous, seems with him to have
been one of cheerful activity and progress, and instead of leaving his master
on its termination he remained with him a year longer as clerk He then
resolved to set up business on his own account, not, however, until he had taken
the important preliminary step of settling down as a married man. This was
in the year 1795. His shop was well chosen and classic ground, being situated
on the north side of the High Street, nearly opposite the Old Cross-a site
formerly occupied by Andrew Hart, the famous printer, and more recently by
Kincaid and Creech, both notable bibliopoles who had attained to the highest
civic honours of the city. The place was in those days a sort of lounge for literary
men, from its contiguity to the Cross and the Parliament House, not to speak
of some highly-favoured taverns in the adjoining closes, which were then the
resort of the choice spirits of the day. Here he was not slow to form many
literary connections, and to lay the foundation of a business that rapidly
assumed gigantic proportions. It is impossible in a short notice like this to
enter into the details of the numerous literary works which he projected and
carried out. The first of these, appropriate enough considering his agricultural
antecedents, was the Famner’s Magazine ; the second, characteristic of his love of
Scotch literature, was the Scots Magazine; and the third and crowning periodical
work was the world-renowned Edinburgh Beview, the first number of which ap-
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