Page:A history of booksellers, the old and the new.djvu/236

200 200 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD. ' even for an industrious boy, and opportunity of more various reading than comes within the reach of many sixth-form scholars and university undergraduates. " It was here," says an obituary notice, " that he had so largely stored his mind with reading of all sorts, but more especially with Scottish history and antiquities, that on establishing himself in business, his accom- plishments attracted the notice of persons whose good opinion was distinction." Before the expiry of his time, in 1797, he must also have displayed a talent for business-life, for we find that he was imme- diately engaged by Messrs. Mundell & Co., then largely employed in the book trade at Edinburgh, to take the sole management of a branch house at Glas- gow ; and being thus, at the early age of twenty years, thrown almost entirely upon his own resources, and with his own judgment for his only guidance, he acquired that decision of character which distinguished him throughout after-life, and which was so instrumental in the fortunes of his house. In spite, however, of all his efforts, the firm of Mundell & Co. did not prosper at Glasgow it was they, the reader may, perhaps, remember, who purchased the " Pleasures of Hope," for only fifty printed copies of the work, from Campbell and after his year's service was over, he returned to Edinburgh, and re-entered the employ- ment of Bell and Bradfute, with whom he remained for another year. In 1800, he entered into partnership with Mr. Ross, bookseller and bookseller's auctioneer ; but the auctioneering part of the business proved dis- tasteful to him, and the old book trade presented a much more suitable field for his talents. With the energy of youth he started for London, and was initiated u into the mysteries of bibliography by Mr.