Produced by Eric Hutton, Juliet Sutherland, Wilelmina Malliere and PG
Distributed Proofreaders
1911
When my Grandfather's Memoirs were published, twenty years ago, they metwith a most favourable and gratifying reception at the hands of thepublic. Interest was aroused by the struggle and success of a man whohad few advantages at the outset save his own shrewd sense and generousnature, and who, moreover, was thrown on his own resources to fight thebattle of life when he was little more than a child.
The chief value of these volumes, however, consists in the fact thatthey supply an important, if not an indispensable, chapter in theliterary history of England during the first half of the nineteenthcentury. Byron and Scott, Lockhart, Croker, George Borrow, Hallam,Canning, Gifford, Disraeli, Southey, Milman are but a few of the namesoccurring in these pages, the whole list of which it would be tedious toenumerate.
It may be admitted that a pious desire to do justice to the memory ofJohn Murray the Second—"the Anax of Publishers," as Byron calledhim—led to the inclusion in the original volumes of some material ofminor importance which may now well be dispensed with.
I find, however, that the work is still so often quoted and referred tothat I have asked my friend Mr. Thomas Mackay to prepare a new editionfor the press. I am convinced that the way in which he has dischargedhis task will commend itself to the reading public. He has condensed thewhole, has corrected errors, and has rewritten certain passages in amore concise form.
I desire to acknowledge my debt to him for what he has done, and toexpress a hope that the public may extend a fresh welcome to "an oldfriend with a new face."
December, 1910.
The first John Murray—An Officer of Marines—Retires from ActiveService—His marriage—Correspondence with William Falconer—Falconer'sdeath—Murray purchases Sandby's business—John Murray's firstpublications—His writings—Mr. Kerr—Thomas Cumming goes to Ireland onbehalf of Murray—Prof. J. Millar—Mr. Whitaker—Defence of Sir R.Gordon—Ross estate—His controversy with Mr. Mason—The Edinburghbooksellers—Creech and Elliot—Dr. Cullen—The second John Murray—Hiseducation—Accident to his eye—Illness and death of the elder JohnMurray
John Murray the Second—"The Anax of Publishers"—His start inbusiness—Murray and Highley—Dissolution of the partnership—Colman's"John Bull"—Mr. Joseph Hume—Archibald Constable—John Murray aVolunteer—The D'Israeli family—Isaac D'Israeli's earlyworks—"Flim-Flams"—Birth of Benjamin D'Israeli—Projected periodicalthe "Institute"—The "Miniature"—Murray's acquaintance with Canning andFrere
Archibald Constable & Co.