REMINISCENCES OF A UNITARIAN PUBLISHER.

IT is probable that many of the subscribers to this Magazine know that the proprietor has been engaged for the greater part of a long life as a publisher of Unitarian books and periodicals - not a profitable business by any means, so far as this world's goods are concerned, as his experience can testify; but it may have been of some profit and advantage, and done good in other ways, and certainly it has given him. an opportunity to become acquainted with many of the best clergymen and best men and women among the laity of the Unitarian denomination of the past half century.

At the semi-centennial celebration of the Christian Regisister Association, a few weeks ago, my friend, Rev. Dr. Gannett, in his remarks called me the patriarch of the Unitarian publishers. This was true in part, as I am the oldest publisher of the denomination; but I did not know why I should be called a patriarch, as that honorable name, I thought, was only given to a man at least a hundred years old. But this is of no consequence. I have been so accustomed to think that whatever Dr. Gannett and his predecessor and colleague, Dr. Channing, said, must be true, that I will take it for granted that I am a patriarch of a certain kind and degree.

I now propose to state a few facts, which I have been requested to do by some friends, in regard to the various. publications in which I have been interested since the establishment of the Unitarian Association in 1825,- forty-six years ago.

In 1826, I formed a partnership with Mr. George Dearborn, under the firm and name of Bowles & Dearborn, and rented a building, No. 50 Washington Street, a few doors north of State Street, and opened what was then called a Unitarian Book-store. We were the publishers of the tracts and other works of the Unitarian Association, and kept for sale a large assortment of books for Parish and Sunday-school libraries.

A few of the elder clergymen of the denomination said they hoped we should not put on our sign the words, "Unitarian Book-store," - if we did, they would not patronize the store. We did not do that, but we had a large sign painted and put up between the second and third story windows of the building, which read, "Depository of the American Unitarian Association." A stranger passing the building might think that the business of the Depository was done in the upper stories, and had no connection with the store below; whereas our business was carried on all over the building, and the printing office was in another building in the rear of the store, and a bindery in the upper stories. Opposite our store was what was then called the Orthodox Book-store, occupied by Messrs. Crocker & Brewster, and near them the Baptist Book-store, kept by Lincoln & Edmands, now Gould & Lincoln. Here were the three denominational bookstores of this city near together. We were all good friends. and good neighbors; we had no theological disputes, or quarreling in business affairs. On Thursday, Lecture Day, the clergymen of our denomination in the city and vicinity visited the store, and arranged their exchanges for the following Sunday, and did what other business they might wish to do. On anniversary week our store was filled with clergymen and men and women of the laity from all parts of the country. They all appeared pleasant and happy-glad, I have no doubt, to have a vacation and be relieved from parish and other duties for a few days. I heard nothing said about Right Wing or Left Wing, Conservative or Radical; that word "Radical," which makes so much talk in these days, I think was not in use at that time. I never heard it spoken. I thought them all good Christian men and women, and good customers. I often look back and think of those "bygone days" with pleasant and agreeable recollections of the many good clergymen and laymen with whom I was then associated. The most of them are gone to their final rest: a few may be living in various parts of the country.

In 1828, we commenced publishing "The Unitarian Advocate," a monthly periodical, edited by Rev. E. Q. Sewall, after

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wards by Rev. Dr. Lamson and Rev. Dr. Barrett. When the first number was issued, a few of the old clergymen in the denomination did not altogether like the title Unitarian, but I believe they all became subscribers. We also commenced that year "The Christian Teacher's Manual," a monthly magazine for families and Sunday schools, edited by Miss Eliza L. Cabot, afterwards the wife of Rev. Dr. Follen. We were also the publishers of "The Christian Examiner;" likewise of "The Liberal Preacher," edited by Rev. T. R. Sullivan. In 1829, after having been engaged in an extensive business for about three years, more extensive, probably, than was prudent for the limited capital which we had, — we were. obliged to dissolve partnership, for various reasons, and sell our large stock at a great sacrifice and loss. I settled up the business of the firm to the best of my ability, and early in the following year, 1830, I commenced business again in another store on Washington Street, without a partner. I continued to publish "The Unitarian Advocate," and "The Christian Manual," and that year I bought of Mr. John Prentiss, of Keene, "The Liberal Preacher," and paid six hundred dollars for the subscription list. This Mr. Prentiss is now ninety-three years old. He has always been a Unitarian of the old school, well known and respected in the denomination. I think he might be called a Unitarian Patriarch. After I bought "The Liberal Preacher," it was edited by Rev. George Ripley, assisted by an association of clergymen in this city.

In 1831, I commenced publishing "The Scriptural Interpreter," a monthly magazine, edited by Rev. Dr. Gannett, which was continued for several years.

In 1832, I sold to Mr. Reed, of "The Christian Register," "The Unitarian Advocate," and "The Liberal Preacher," which he published, I think, two or three years, and then discontinued both of them.

In 1835, I published "The Boston Observer," a royal quarto paper, edited by Rev. George Ripley. This paper had the motto, given me by Rev. H. Ware, Jr., "Liberty, Holiness,

Love." The paper was continued six months, and then united with "The Christian Register."

In addition to these periodicals, I published during those ten years many volumes of valuable sermons, by English and American authors, with several other religious and miscellaneous works, written by the best men in the denomination, and a large number of juvenile books for families and Sunday-school libraries, whose authors were Mrs. Follen and her sister, Miss Cabot, Mrs. Sedgwick, Mrs. Child, Miss Dix, Miss Harriet Martineau, and other of the best writers of that day. These works are now all out of print, except a few, which may be found in private or Sunday-school libraries. I sometimes look over the old volumes which I have. published, and find there much good and profitable reading. It is some satisfaction for me to state, as I can with truth and sincerity, that, for the many years I have been a publisher, I am not aware that my name or my imprint has been on any book or periodical of an immoral tendency. They have all been works of a religious or moral character.

I think that during the ten years from 1825 to 1835, in which I was extensively engaged in publishing books and periodicals of a denominational character, the sale and circulation of such works was, for various reasons, much more than during the same period in the following years.

In 1843, I commenced publishing "The Child's Friend," a monthly magazine for families and Sunday schools, edited by Mrs. E. L. Follen for about ten years, and after that time by Miss Harriet L. Brown for two or three years, and then discontinued.

In January, 1844, I commenced publishing "The Monthly Religious Magazine," then a small duodecimo volume, edited the first year by Dr. Gannett and Rev. F. D. Huntington. The second year, Mr. Huntington was sole editor. The work was enlarged, and he continued to have charge of it for fourteen years, ending December, 1858. In 1859 I engaged Rev. E. H. Sears and Rev. Rufus Ellis as editors, and they had charge of it until the close of the past year, twelve years, with

the exception of about six months when Rev. Dr. Thompson took Mr. Ellis' place during his absence in Europe. In December, last all my editors resigned, in consequence of impaired health, and I was left alone without an editor: but my faith and hope did not forsake me. I believed that the right man would come in due time, and he did come; and I am happy to say that I was so fortunate as to engage in January last Rev. Dr. Morison, of Milton, as editor of the magazine, with the assistance of Rev. E. H. Sears; and I hope they may be able to continue in charge of it as long as I am the publisher.

I think that I have been highly favored in having so many good and able men as editors and contributors for the magazine during the past twenty-seven years; and I will say in this connection that all my relations with the different editors, during this long period, have been most agreeable and satisfactory. I shall ever hold in grateful remembrance the aid and encouragement they gave me in my work, when in past years the theological discussions in the denomination, politics, the slavery question, and other affairs in our country during the late war of the rebellion, affected the subscription list more or less, and appeared at times discouraging. I can also say of all the editors and authors with whom I have been associated during the past forty-five years, both the living and the dead, that their services will never be forgotten, but always remembered with gratitude.

I believe "The Religious Magazine" has done good since its establishment, and will continue to do good hereafter, not only in our own denomination, but in other denominations, among which I have a few subscribers; and I think it is read a good deal by the members of different sects of Christians. who are not permanent subscribers—as was not the case a few years ago. I shall continue to publish the work as long as I am able and have sufficient encouragement to do so; and I take this opportunity to say that I feel very grateful to many good friends among my subscribers, both gentlemen and ladies, who have aided me in various ways to publish the magazine for so many years. I can also say with truth,