THE LATE MR W. LONGMAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5228, 21 November 1877, Page 3

THE LATE MR W. LONGMAN.

The Athenaeum says of Mr Longman, one of the well-known publishing firm, new* of whose death woe brought by the mail “Mr William Longman at an early age entered hie father’s business, and in 1839 ha was made a partner in the firm, and after Mr T. N. Longman’s death, in 1842, the chief direction of affairs passed into the hands of William Longman and his elder brother, the present Mr Thomas Longman, who bad been a partner sinoe 1832 The eight and thirty yeara during which the deceased gentleman had a share in the firm were marked by several publications memorable in English literature. Indeed, the year in which the two brothers succeeded to the control of the business was that of the production of the 'Lays of Ancient Borne,’ the first of the great ‘hits’ which made Macaulay snob an hero in the eyes of booksellers. Uis ‘ Essays ’ from the - Edinburgh , the first two volumes of the History, and, above all, the second-two issued on December 17,1855, which produced the celebrated cheque for £20,000, were all of them events of magnitude in the annals of the trade, only to be rivalled, if rivalled at all, by the Waverley Novels in former days and Victor Hugo’s books at the present time. Many other notable successes have attended the proceedings of the house in lafer times. Oolenso's book on the Pentateuch, ‘ The Qreville Memoirs,’ ' Lothair,’ and several other publications have achieved wide circulations ; while ventures of a different sort, snob as Uro’s Dictionary,have a steady and constant sale that make them valuable properties. The acquisition of Mr Parker’s etook and business connexion in 1863 made the bouse,publishers ■for. many writers of note who had hitherto issued their- books from the West - Strand, such as Mr Mill, Mr Froude, and the lute Sir Oornewall Lewis. To conclude this brief notice of the evente of Mr Longman’s career, we may mention ‘The Travellers’ Library,’ one of the best collections of cheap literature we have had. Mr Longman didnot, however, confine, himself to publishing for other people. He was himself an author, and we owe to him the excellent ‘ Lectures on .the History of England ’ down to the reign• of Edward the 111., and afterwards an elaborate life of that monarch, which would be a credit to a writer who oonld devote his whole time to historical research, and was, therefore, still more honourable to one who had sash heavy calls pa bis time. Mr Longman’s historical and ice ithetie tastes also led him to take an active interest in the proposed decoration of 8t Pan!’*. He not only served on the Committee appointed for that purpose, but he also wrote a monograph on the 1 Three Cathedrals’ dedi-cated-to St. Paul in London.’ M»-Longman was fond of travelling. His first attempt;at authorship, indeed, Was a privately-printed volume, describing a 'Six Weeks’- Tour in ilwiluriand }* atd some two year* , contributed ‘ Impressions of Madeira us 1833 . .to .JSt'Hter’t Magatine He was at one time 'president of tae Alpine Olab.and hi* l*»t •contribution to literature was the oommiaoaIment of some remark* on ‘Modern Maunjtaioeeving, and the History of - the Alpine jChiV which appeared in the Alpine -Joariwtl, Unit February. This musk unfortunately {remain .a. fragment. He also wrote ‘Sog, Igsstions for the Exploration of Iceland.’ Mr Longman's courtesy and kindest* of heart had ■won for him a large circle oft friends, not- in London only, but also in Herefordsbira, where Ihe-had a country house ani-passed a good deal, lof time, taking a warm interest in local Ibdeed his ‘ Lectures oa English History ! were original!* it.tended t® instruct Jsil neigh ! hours at Ohorley-wcod. He leaves behind a -widow and eight children., One d his sons,, ( Mr O.X Longman, is eigsged in the business. And with two sons of Mr T. Longman—MrIThomas N. Longman, a partner ia the firm, and Mr G. Longraaa—represents, in Pat®'' noster-row the fifth generation of the gmah publishing-house.”