MURRAY, JOHN, the name of three generations of English publishers, will forever remain associated with the palmiest days of English literature in the 18th and 19111 cen turies. The founder of the house, John M`Murray, was born in Edinburgh about 1745. He obtained a commission in the royal marines in 1762, and in 1768 was still second-lieut., when, disgusted with the slowness of promotion, and panting for a more active career, lie purchased the bookselling business of Mr. Sandby, opposite St. Dunstan's church, London, and, dropping the Scottish prefix, became a bookseller and purchaser at "32 Fleet street." He brought out the English Review, and published the elder Disraeli's Curiosities of Literature. etc. lie could himself wield the pen. as some pamphlets remain to testify. He died Nov. 16, 1793, and was sueceeded in due time by his son Jonx, who was left a minor of 15 at his father's death. One' of the earliest hits of John the second was Mrs. Rundell's cookerv-book, which proved to be a mine of wealth—more produc tive, perhaps, than Childe Ilerold itself. He beentne connected with Thomas Campbell and sir Walter Scott, and in 1808-9 projected the Quarterly Review, a tory organ. in sition to the Whig Edinburgh Review, then in the height of its influence. The first num ber was published Feb. 1, 1809, under the editorship of William Gifford. The new periodical was completely successful, and brought Murray into communication not only with the chief literati, but also with the conservat ve statesmen of the time. A still more fortunate acquaintance was that with lord Byron, whose Childe Harold was published by Murray in 1812. Murray now removed from Fleet street to Albemarle street, where the business is still carried on. Here Byron and Scott first met, and here Southey made the acquaintance of Crabbe. Almost all the literary magnates of the day were "four o'clock
visitors" in Albemarle street. Byron's pleasant verse has described the scene: Murray's elmner-parties included politicians and statesmen, as well as authors, artists, and dilettanti. Murray paid Byron nearly £0,000 for his works, and his dealings with Crabbe, Moore, Campbell, and Irving were princely. The second John Murray died in his 65th year, in 1843, and was succeeded by his son, JOHN 311111 RAY the third. Born in 1808, he was educated first at the charter house, and afterwards at Edinburgh university. The age of Byron had gone by, when, in 1843, he succeeded to the business of his father and grandfather. A more practical and realistic age had succeeded, and the "home and colonial library," issued to beat off foreign and American piracies, was the precursor of the cheap railway and other literature of the present day. A. lively and vigorous com petition, arising out of the wants of a new era, has somewhat altered the relation of the great publishing houses. That of Albemarle street no longer ranks first in the extent and variety of its transactions, but many of the greatest works in history, biography, travel, art, and science have issued from the Albemarle street press under the regime of the third Murray. Among his later successes may be mentioned Dr. Livingstone's Travels and Last Journals, Smiles's Life of George Stephenson, and Charles Darwin's Oirgin of Species by -Yatural Selection. His handbooks of continental travel have lately been supplemented by handbooks of English counties, and these, it is understood, owe much to the personal assistance and superintendence of the present head of the famous house of Murray.