A Publisher and His Friends - Memoir and Correspondence of John Murray; with an - Account of the Origin and Progress of the House, 1768-1843 by Samuel Smiles
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page 42 of 594 (07%)
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reached, and made Edinburgh a great centre of learning and literature.
In 1800 he commenced the _Farmer's Magazine_, and in the following year acquired the property of the _Scots Magazine,_ a venerable repertory of literary, historical, and antiquarian matter; but it was not until the establishment of the _Edinburgh Review_, in October 1802, that Constable's name became a power in the publishing world. In the year following the first issue of the _Review_, Constable took into partnership Alexander Gibson Hunter, eldest son of David Hunter, of Blackness, a Forfarshire laird. The new partner brought a considerable amount of capital into the firm, at a time when capital was greatly needed in that growing concern. His duties were to take charge of the ledger and account department, though he never took much interest in his work, but preferred to call in the help of a clever arithmetical clerk. It is unnecessary to speak of the foundation of the _Edinburgh Review_. It appeared at the right time, and was mainly supported by the talents of Jeffrey, Brougham, Sydney Smith, Francis Horner, Dr. Thomas Brown, Lord Murray, and other distinguished writers. The first number immediately attracted public attention. Mr. Joseph Mawman was the London agent, but some dissatisfaction having arisen with respect to his management, the London sale was transferred to the Messrs. Longman, with one half share in the property of the work. During the partnership of Murray and Highley, they had occasional business transactions with Constable of Edinburgh. Shortly after the partnership was dissolved in March 1803, Murray wrote as follows to Mr. Constable: |
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