a night of it by going to the theatre
at half price; a question that was immediately carried, _nemine
contradicente_. Mr. Margin, our esteemed companion, who represented
the old established house of Sherwood and Co., was known to sing a
good stave, and what was still more attractive, was himself a child of
song--one of the inspired of the nine, who, at the Anacreontic Club,
held in Ivy Lane, would often amuse ~258~~the society with an original
chant; "whose fame," as Blackstrap expressed it, "had extended itself to
the four corners of the island, wherever the sporting works of Sherwood
and Co., or the travelled histories of the Messrs. Longmans, have found
readers and admirers." "Gentlemen," said Mr. Margin, "my songs are all
of a local nature; whims written to amuse a meeting of the trade for
a dinner at the Albion or the London, when the booksellers congregate
together to buy copyrights, or sell at a reduced price the refuse of
their stock. But, such as it is, you shall have it instanter."

ALL THE BOOKSELLERS;

A NEW SONG, BY A LONDON TRAVELLER.

Tune--Family Pride--Irish air.

First, Longmans are famous for travels,
Will Sherwood for sporting and fun,
Old Ridgway the science unravels
How politic matters are done.

The ponderous tomes of deep learning,
The heavy, profound, and the flat,
By Baldwin and Cradock's discerning,
Are cheaper by half to come at.

Baines deals out to methodist readers
Cant, piously strung into rhyme;
While Rivingtons, 'gainst the seceders,
With church and king Hatchard will chime.

John Murray's the lords' own anointed,
I mean not indeed to blaspheme,
But the peers have him solely appointed
To sell what their highnesses scheme.

~259~~

Colburn defies Day and Martin
To beat him with " Real Japan;"
If puffing will sell books, 'tis certain,
He'll rival the bookselling clan.

Catechisms for miss and for master,
For ladies who're fond oft, romance,
Sheriff Whittaker publishes faster
Than booksellers' porters can dance.

Operatives, mechanics, combiners,
Knight and Lacey will publish for you;
They'll tickle ye out of your shiners,
By teaching the power o' the screw.