the late Mr. Murray, in his
removal from Fleet Street to Albemarle Street; and, indeed, John Murray,
as a publisher, seems only to have been a fearless copyist, in many
matters, of Joseph Johnson. Whether, as a tradesman, he was judicious or
not in so doing, is a question upon which there may be two opinions; but
there can be no hesitation about the perfect application of Dr. Aikin's
words to both parties:--

"The character Mr. Johnson established by his integrity, good sense,
and honourable principles of dealing, soon raised him to eminence as
a publisher; and many of the most distinguished names in science and
literature during the last half century appear in works which he
ushered to the world."

The imprint of Johnson is to be found upon the title-pages which first
introduced Cowper and Darwin to notice:--

"The former of these, with the diffidence, and perhaps the
despondency, of his character, had actually, by means of a friend,
made over to him (Johnson) his two volumes of poems, on no other
condition than that of securing him from expense; but when the
public, which neglected the first volume, had discovered the rich
mine opened in the _Task_, and assigned the author his merited place
among the first-rate English poets, Mr. Johnson would not avail
himself of his advantage, but displayed a liberality which has been
warmly acknowledged by that admirable, though unfortunate, person."

A score of equally generous anecdotes might be told of Murray. In one
particular, however, there was, as publishers, a decided difference
between the views of Johnson and Murray. Those of Johnson are at present
in the ascendancy; but they may produce a revolution in favour of the
opinion of John Murray against cheap literature. Johnson was the
opponent of typographical luxury. Murray, on the contrary, supported the
aristocracy of the press, until obliged, "by the pressure from without,"
in some degree to compromise his views by the publication of the 'Family
Library.'

In the wing (comparatively speaking a modern addition) attached to this
house, and in the room where Mr. Johnson died, is a remarkable
chimney-piece, of a monumental character; but I can learn nothing
respecting it.

The history of Dungannon House when Acacia Cottage, could we procure a
correct record of all the ideas which [Picture: Chimney-piece] have
passed through the human mind within its walls, r