MR CHRISTOPHER BROWN.

To the free &easy Counsellors under the Cauliflower.

This Portrait of MB BROWN their worthy Secretary,

Jolly Pigeons that will be remembered as long as Goldsmith's comedy of "She Stoops to Conquer" shall be admired, and as long as that sign shall continue to have a Tony Lumpkin for its advocate.

The Three Pigeons is situate in Butcherhall -lane, bounded by Christ Church and Snow-hill on the west, St. Martin's-le-Grand and Cheapside on the east, by Newgate-street, and Ivy-lane (where Dr. Johnson's club was held) and Paternoster-row (which we have already adverted to) on the South, and by Little Britain on the north of the last mentioned, Washington Irving has given an admirable picture in his "Sketch Book," but, as he has not given a portrait of the last resident bookseller of eminence, in that ancient mart of bibliopolists, he has left us the pleasing task of performing an humble attempt in that way: but even we, who knew the character, are almost spared the trouble; for could the old literary frequenters of Button's and Wills' coffee houses again appear in human shapes, with their large wiry, white curled wigs, coats without a collar, raised hair buttons square perpendicular cut in front, with immense long hanging sleeves, covering a delicate hand, further graced by fine ruffles; a long waistcoat, with angled-off flaps, descending to the centre of the thigh, the small clothes slashed in front, and closed with three small buttons; with accurate and ma thematically cut, square-toed, short-quartered shoes, with a large tongue, to prevent a small sized square silver buckle hurting the instep or soiling the fine silken hose, they would present an exact and faithful portrait of the late Edward Ballard, standing at his shop, at the Globe, over against the pump, in Little Britain. He was the last remaining bookseller of that school. if we except the late James Buckland, at the sign of the Buck, in Paternoster row, with one or two others, who put one in mind of Alexander Pope, in stature, size, dress, and appearance. The writer of this article recollects, when a boy, frequently calling at Ballard's shop, and purchasing various books, in a new and unbound state, when they were considered to be out of print, and some of them really scarce. This arose from the obscurity of the once celebrated Little Britain, and the great age of its last resident bookseller, who, till his demise, retained some shares and copyrights (notwithstanding he and his brother had sold the most valuable to Lintot,) in school and religious books; with the last remains of a stock, principally guarded and watched by an old faithful female servant, Mr. John Nicholls gives the following interesting account of the family.

"The Bullards of Little Britain, famed, for more than a century, as the supporters of literature, were noted for the soundness of their principles in church aud state. The father of them was celebrated by John Dunton ;[a] [] The original name, as appears by the auction catalogues, was Bullard,

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Mr. Brown was of the old school of booksellers, and, perhaps, there never was an assistant, in any establishment, that possessed more assiduity and integrity, with an acuteness of feeling for the interest of his employer that could not be exceeded; it was unceasing for upwards of thirty years, and the business he got through, even at an advanced period of life, with clearness, precision, and expedition, was truly astonishing. The writer of this sketch remembers him, with all the early associations and pleasing recollections of that period of his life, above forty years back; and, even then, his thin spare form and bending figure would almost convey the idea that he was worn out by exertion. But it was otherwise, for his cheerfulness and exertions continued unabated for upwards of twenty years afterwards. It was owing to his natural cheerfulness, the suavity of his manners, and amiability of disposition, (to which was added a great portion of humour) that he was chosen a permanent secretary in the society of "Free and Easy Counsellors under the Cauliflower."* and never was there a society conducted with more decorum and prudence. It consisted of steady men of business, who

and, of the second grandson, there are a few Bibliomanists still living who recollect his integrity and civility. School-books and divinity catalogues were their particular forte. The father, Samuel, who was many years deputy of the ward of Aldersgate Within, died August 27, 1761. The only son Edward, died January 2, 1796, at the age of 88, in the same house in which he was born, He had out-lived his mental faculties, and for some time used to be carried about in a chair. He was the last of the profession in Little Britain, once the grand emporium of books

It is not many years since two booksellers, whe resided there, were used to sport their rubric posts close to each other, as Tom Davies did in Russell-street, Perhaps Sewell in Cornhill, was the last who exhibited the leading authors in his shop in that way. How few remember when it was not an uncommon thing to do so!

Note. The writer recollects Mr. Buckland, of Paternoster-row, and one or two persons in the Strand, adopting these rubric posts, that prevented many good works being soiled, by placing them in the windows.

The large cauliflower painted on the ceiling was intended to represent the cauliflower-top on the gallon of porter, which was paid for by every member who sat under it at his initiation.

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at that day retired from fatigue, and enjoyed a glass in moderation, a pipe, and a cheerful song; and the writer, with hundreds of others, well remembers the vocal powers of Mr. Brown, when poured forth in favour of Anacreon, or the gods and goddesses; but, to turn to his more serious avocations, as a man of business, as a faithful assistant, as an affectionate husband and father, no man could possibly stand higher. Of his talents and industry we shall endeavour to give a faint idea. So long ago as the year 1785, he presented the figure that has already been described, and of which our portrait may be relied upon to be an accurate resemblance, and, we trust, an acceptable one, both to the young as well as to the old fry. Nursed in the cradle of the wholesale book trade, Mr. Brown had, as before noted, been many years an assistant to the late Mr. Thomas Longman, of Paternosterrow, until the death of that truly respectable gentleman, by whom he was not forgotten in his last moments for his long and faithful services; nor did Mr. Brown quit that great establishment for several years, until a vast extension of the wholesale foreign and domestic trade, a new and general system of publishing modern works, and his good old age, rendered it necessary for him to retire into the bosom of his family.*

A few years subsequent to the above period, Mr. Brown's friend (Evans) whom he used occasionally to assist, resigned business in favour of an only son, who was unfortunate, when the whole of the finest and best selected wholesale book connection, in the trade, was handed over to the respectable firm of Messrs. Longman, Rees, and Co. This, with the original capital, stock. and connections, of that house, together with subsequent exertions in the wholesale country and foreign trade, and in publishing the most expensive, valuable and useful works, has rendered an establishment, for

Loyal, Anacreontic, and classical songs, were the worthy president's favourites.

*His friend, Mr. Thomas Evans frequently offered to forward his prospects in business by advancing him money for that purpose: but Mr. Brown as constantly refused, saying, he could not think of leaving Mr. Longman nor did he ever attempt to do so.