A Publisher and His Friends | Page 9

being possessed by an
almost morbid fear of running any risks, he brought out no new works,
took no share in the new books that were published, and it is doubtful

whether he looked very sharply after the copyrights belonging to the
firm. He was mainly occupied in selling books brought out by other
publishers.
The late Mr. Murray had many good friends in India, who continued to
send home their orders to the new firm of Murray & Highley. Amongst
them were Warren Hastings and Joseph Hume. Hume had taken out
with him an assortment of books from the late Mr. Murray, which had
proved very useful; and he wrote to Murray and Highley for more.
Indeed, he became a regular customer for books.
Meanwhile Murray fretted very much under the careless and indifferent
management of Highley. The executors did not like to be troubled with
his differences with his partner, and paid very little attention to him or
his affairs. Since his mother's remarriage and removal to Bridgenorth,
the young man had literally no one to advise with, and was compelled
to buffet with the troubles and difficulties of life alone. Though
inexperienced, he had, however, spirit and common sense enough to
see that he had but little help to expect from his partner, and the
difficulties of his position no doubt contributed to draw forth and
develop his own mental energy. He was not a finished scholar, but had
acquired a thorough love of knowledge and literature, and a keen
perception of the beauties of our great English classics. By acquiring
and cultivating a purity of taste, he laid the foundations of that quick
discrimination which, combined with his rapidly growing knowledge of
men and authors, rendered him afterwards so useful, and even powerful,
in the pursuit of his profession.
Mr. Murray came of age on November 27, 1799; but he was prudent
enough to continue with Highley for a few years longer. After four
years more, he determined to set himself free to follow his own course,
and the innumerable alterations and erasures in his own rough draft of
the following letter testify to the pains and care which he bestowed on
this momentous step.
_John Murray to Mr. Highley_.
GREAT QUEEN STREET, _Friday, November 19, 1802._

MR. HIGHLEY,
I propose to you that our partnership should be dissolved on the
twenty-fifth day of March next:
That the disposal of the lease of the house and every other matter of
difference that may arise respecting our dissolution shall be determined
by arbitrators--each of us to choose one--and that so chosen they shall
appoint a third person as umpire whom they may mutually agree upon
previous to their entering upon the business:
I am willing to sign a bond to this effect immediately, and I think that I
shall be able to determine my arbitrator some day next week.
As I know this proposal to be as fair as one man could make to another
in a like situation, and in order to prevent unpleasant altercation or
unnecessary discussion, I declare it to be the last with which I intend to
trouble you.
I take this opportunity of saying that, however much we may differ
upon matters of business, I most sincerely wish you well.
JOHN MURRAY.
In the end they agreed to draw lots for the house, and Murray had the
good fortune to remain at No. 32, Fleet Street. Mr. Highley removed to
No. 24 in the same street, and took with him, by agreement, the
principal part of the medical works of the firm. Mr. Murray now started
on his own account, and began a career of publication almost unrivalled
in the history of letters.
Before the dissolution of partnership, Mr. Murray had seen the first
representation of Column's Comedy of "John Bull" at Covent Garden
Theatre, and was so fascinated by its "union of wit, sentiment, and
humour," that the day after its representation he wrote to Mr. Colman,
and offered him £300 for the copyright. No doubt Mr. Highley would
have thought this a rash proceeding.

_John Murray to Mr. Colman_.
"The truth is that during my minority I have been shackled to a drone of
a partner; but the day of emancipation is at hand. On the twenty-fifth of
this month [March 1803] I plunge alone into the depths of literary
speculation. I am therefore honestly ambitious that my first appearance
before the public should be such as will at once stamp my character and
respectability. On this account, therefore, I think that your Play would
be more advantageous to me than to any other bookseller; and as 'I am
not covetous of Gold,' I should hope that no trifling consideration will
be allowed to prevent my having the honour of being Mr. Colman's