* CHAMBERS, WILLIAM and ROBERT, the well-known publishers of Ediuburgb, claim a notice here as among the most zealous and successful labourers in the great effort which has been made during the past thirty years, to place sound and wholesome literature within the reach of all classes of the population of this kingdom. The eldest children of a respectable pair settled at Peebles in the south of Scot land, William was born in 1800, his brother Robert in 1802. They received a good school education iu their native town, Robert passing through a complete classical course, and showing from his earliest years a great love of study, while William was of a more practical turn of mind. Through the misfortunes of their father in business, they were thrown in mere boyhood on their own resources. The family having removed to Edinburgh, William was apprenticed to a bookseller there. - Robert, failing to get to college as hid been designed, made what most people would have thought an eccentric movement, and entered at sixteen on an important career as a book seller, with very small means. The early struggles of the two young men would form a remarkable narrative as an example of self-relying energy and industry. They conducted separate concerns in Edinburgh till 1832, when they united in starting their well-known popular periodical, Chambera'a Edinburgh Journal.' Before this time Robert had written his Traditions of Edinburgh,' and contributed several popular histories to Constable's Miscellany.' He had also for some years conducted a newspaper in Edinburgh. His attention to the antiquities of Edinburgh had early gained him the notice of Sir Walter Scott (who in his diary terms him "a clever young fellow— but hurts himself by too much haste"), Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, and other eminent natives, who took an interest in the stories of the Old Town. William Chambers had meanwhile published a laborious work entitled the ' Book of Scotland.' From 1832 their united career as publishers has been marked by distinguished success.
As soon as the success of the' Edinburgh Journal' became apparent, (in 1834 its sale had reached 50,000 copies), the brothers gave up their separate places of business, and formed one establishment in the High street, which has gone on increasing in extent till it has grown to be one of the most remarkable printing and publishing houses in Scotland. The facilities which their extensive printing machinery and their organisation for the circulation of the 'Journal' gave thorn, Messrs.
Chambers were not slow in turning to account in the publication of various cheap works of a popular and instructive character. Among the most important of these have been their Information for the People,' Popular Library,' Instructive and Entertaining Library,' 'Repository of Instructive and Entertaining Tracts,' 'Miscellany,' Series,' &c. That their works were well calculated to meet a popular want is evidenced by the remarkable extent of the circulation of many of them. In statements published in their 'Journal,' Messrs. Chambers say that the sale of the numbers of the "Information for the People' averaged about 130,000 copies ; while the Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts' sold from 150,000 to 200,000 copies, some particular numbers nearly reaching 300,000 copies.
Mr. Robert Chambers we have said early devoted much attention to literature. His principal works are the Traditions of Edinburgh,' already mentioned ; ' History of the Rebellion of 1745-46;" Popular Rhymes of Scotland ;' 'Life and Works of Burns;' and his Essays,' in 4 vole., selected from the Journal. Much of his leisure time has been devoted to scientific pursuits, and especially to geology, the result of which has been given to the public in a handsomely-illustrated volume entitled 'Ancient Sea-Margins, as Illustrative of Changes of the Relative Level of Sea and Land,' and in occasional papers published in the scientific periodicals.
Mr. William Chambers also contributed many essays to the ' Journal,' but we believe the only separate works published with his name, were his 'Book of Scotland,' and a brief notice of a tour in Holland, until a year or two back, when he wrote an account of his impressions of a tour in the United States, which, having first appeared in the pages of the ' Journal,' was subsequently issued in a revised form as a distinct work under the title of Things as they aro iu America.' He has since published a short notice of l'eebles and its Neighbour hood,' and ' Improved Dwelling-Houses for the Humbler and other Classes in Cities ;' the latter being suggested, it is said, by his experience during the last few years In improving the dwellings of his tenantry on au estate he purchased near Peebles, the cultivation and improvement of which has formed a pleasant occupation of his well-earned leisure.