Page:A history of booksellers, the old and the new.djvu/412

372 372 KELLY AND VIRTUE. Mr. George Virtue was another of those men of whom, in this history, we have had not a few examples, who, beginning life without any fictitious advantages, have made success their goal, and, in attaining it, have not only amassed princely fortunes for themselves and their families, but have opened up new branches of in- dustry, and have afforded employment to hundreds whose bread depends upon their daily labours. His father was a native of Fogo, in" Berwickshire, who first at Coldstream, and afterwards at Wooler, in Northumberland, let out for hire carts and carters to the neighbouring farmers. In the year 1793, his second son, George, was born at Coldstream, and there and at Wooler, he passed the early years of his boyhood. In 1810, his father met with an accident, which caused him to relinquish the business he had hitherto been engaged in. His eldest son, James, who had a good engagement in London, gave up his em- ployment and hastened home, and removing with the family to Coldstream, commenced business there as a mason, taking his brother George as an apprentice. Mrs. Somerton, their married sister, had a large house, near the Houses of Parliament, in London, which she let out, much on the plan of the club-chambers of the present day. George had come up to London, partly on business, partly on a visit to his sister, and not wishing to return to the North, he made an arrangement to remain with Mrs. Somerton. The house was chiefly frequented by members of Parliament and men in the higher grades of life ; and one of the former, who had taken a fancy to George Virtue, asked him what he would like to be. George at once replied, "A bookseller," and his patron assisted him in stocking a shop in the neighbourhood, This was