Archibald Constable

Publisher Archibald Constable died on July 21^st, 1827.  It took until two days later for Walter Scott to record his feelings, in his journal.  Scott was affected when Constable failed in 1826, contributing to Scott’s bankruptcy.

‘July 23 [1827]…Constable's death might have been a most important thing to me if it had happened some years ago, and I should then have lamented it much. He has

lived to do me some injury; yet, excepting the last £5000, I think most

unintentionally. He was a prince of booksellers; his views sharp,

powerful, and liberal; too sanguine, however, and, like many bold and

successful schemers, never knowing when to stand or stop, and not always

calculating his means to his objects with mercantile accuracy. He was

very vain, for which he had some reason, having raised himself to great

commercial eminence, as he might also have attained great wealth with

good management. He knew, I think, more of the business of a bookseller

in planning and executing popular works than any man of his time. In

books themselves he had much bibliographical information, but none

whatever that could be termed literary. He knew the rare volumes of his

library not only by the eye, but by the touch, when blindfolded. Thomas

Thomson saw him make this experiment, and, that it might be complete,

placed in his hand an ordinary volume instead of one of these _libri

rariores_. He said he had over-estimated his memory; he could not

recollect that volume. Constable was a violent-tempered man with those

that he dared use freedom with. He was easily overawed by people of

consequence, but, as usual, took it out of those whom poverty made

subservient to him. Yet he was generous, and far from bad-hearted. In

person good-looking, but very corpulent latterly; a large feeder, and

deep drinker, till his health became weak. He died of water in the

chest, which the natural strength of his constitution set long at

defiance. I have no great reason to regret him; yet I do. If he deceived

me, he also deceived himself.