Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/318

252 rage low price to the public of little more thao one shilling per volume, independent of a variety of other editions of the same works.

It may be in the recollection of many of our readers, that this establishment owes its origin to its former proprietor, Mr. James Lackington, a man of singular character, who, without the aid of a regular education, by the mere force of natural talents, strict principles of honour, and indefatigable industry, raised himself from a station of obscurity to that of independence. He retired some years since, leaving the business to his relative and assistants, who had for many years materially assisted in bringing it to its present state of perfection, and who are too well assured of the value of his precepts to depart from a system which has raised them to so enviable a distinction.

The circumstances attending the origin and progressive increase of this establishment, have been detailed by Mr. James Lackington, with no less interest than fidelity, in the Memoirs of his own Life, a work which has passed through many editions, and which certainly contains much interesting information on literary subjects, combined with a full account of the author's singularly fortunate career.

The annual sale of books at this repository almost exceeds calculation: which indeed cannot at all be wondered at, when the infinite variety of the collection is considered, combining, as it does, books in every language and department of literature and of science, both new and second-hand, from the unique article of costly value to the lowest priced school-book. Hither all classes of persons resort to make their purchases—the merchant for his exports—the learned for the object of their several studies—the collector of rare books to obtain articles which cannot elsewhere be found—the country trader with his wholesale orders—the schoolmaster for the half-yearly supply of his seminary—and the public at large for the casual purchase of whatever may arrest their attention, or interest their curiosity.

The annual publication and extended circulation of catalogues, has tended to make the establishment known throughout the civilized world; and the spaciousness of the premises invites the observation of all strangers and foreigners, who seldom fail to regard the Temple of the Muses as one of those objects which grace and distinguish the British metropolis.

Monday morning—Rose at four o'clock, helped Catharine to milk the cows, Rachael the dairy-maid having scalded her hands in so bad