Piccadilly Bookmen. By Arthur L. Humphreys. (Hatchard).- These " Memorials
of the House of Hatchard " have plenty of interest. Hatchard began business in 1797 with five pounds, and died fifty-two years afterwards worth nearly a hundred thousand pounds. He was apprenticed to a bookseller named Ginger, having a nominal apprenticeship to a member of the Dyers' Company in order to obtain his Freedom of the City. For seven years he was " shopman with Mr. Payne, bookseller," and was courageous enough to marry—having presumably less than the £5 which he possessed seven years later—in June, 1797. Mr. Payne's shop was a well-known haunt of bibliophiles and scholars ; Hatchard made a favourable impression on them, and when he set up in business for himself, parted from his employer on the best of terms. He had distinguished customers. Queen Charlotte bought freely, her subjects being religion and natural history ; Keate of Eton, Archbishop Howley, George Canning, and Wilberforce appear in the list. Mr. Gladstone was a frequent visitor between 1830 and 1840. He would " demand 10 per cent. or threaten to go elsewhere." This was before the days of dis- count. Mr. Humphreys tells some notable things about book- selling and bookbuying two-generations ago.
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