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CHAMBERS 239 are his pictures of naval battles, three of which are in Greenwich hospital. CHAMBERS, Sir William, an English architect, of Scottish descent, born in Stockholm about 1726, died in London, March 8, 1796. He was educated at Kipon, Yorkshire, went as super- cargo to the East Indies, spent some time in China, and brought back many drawings of Chinese buildings and costume, which were published in 1757. He then devoted himself to architecture, and on returning from France and Italy he settled in London in 1744, and was appointed drawing master to the prince of Wales, afterward George III. He laid out the royal gardens at Kew in the Chinese style, and built the villa of the earl of Besborough at Roehampton, and other fine mansions, in the Italian style. His masterpiece was Somerset house in London, which he rebuilt in 1775. He published in 1759 a " Treatise on Civil Architecture," which has been several times reprinted ; and in 1772 a " Dissertation on Ori- ental Gardening." CHAMBERS, William and Robert, Scottish au- thors and publishers, born at Peebles, William in 1800, and Robert in 1802 ; the latter died March 17, 1871. Thrown in boyhood, after receiving the education which the schools of Peebles afforded, upon his own resources, Wil- liam was apprenticed to a printer in Edinburgh, whither the family had moved, and afterward opened a book stall ; while Robert, failing to obtain the collegiate education which he de- sired with a view to the university, at the age of 16 also opened a book stall. Until 1832 the brothers conducted separate establishments. William eked out the profits of his small trade by working at case and press, and in 1830 pub- lished his "Book of Scotland," an elaborate and comprehensive account of the usages and institutions, the schools, social system, and civil and religious organization of that country. Meantime Robert, sharing in the enthusiasm which was then introducing the national ele- ment so largely into Scottish literature, had published in 1823 " Illustrations of the Author of Waverley," a pleasant anecdotical volume, which at once attracted for the young author the notice of the leading literary men of Edin- burgh. In 1824 appeared his " Traditions of Edinburgh," an authentic, detailed, and amu- sing account of the old memories and associa- tions in which the various localities of that capital are so rich. It was dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, who had communicated to him valuable materials for it. This was rapidly followed by his "Popular Rhymes of Scot- land "(1826), "Picture of Scotland" (1827), "History of the Rebellion of 1745-'6," "Life of James I,," and three volumes of " Scottish Songs and Ballads" (1829). In 1829 the brothers united their efforts in preparing the " Gazetteer of Scotland," which was completed and published in 1832, having been written for the most part by them in the intervals of busi- ness. In February, 1832, appeared the first 170 TOL. iv. 16 number of the " Edinburgh Journal," designed " to supply intellectual food of the best kind, and in such a form and at such a price as must suit the convenience of every man in the Brit- ish dominions." It immediately attained a circulation of 50,000, whereupon the brothers united their places of business into one estab- lishment. This journal has remained till the present time one of the most widely circulated of British periodicals. In 1834 they began the publication of a series of scientific and histori- cal treatises, written in a popular style, under the title of " Information for the People," the average sale of the numbers of which was above 100,000 copies. They were followed by the " Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotchmen" (1835); "Cyclopaedia of English Literature " (1844), at once historical and bio- graphical, with well chosen extracts from the works of the principal British authors of every age ; the " People's Edition of Standard English Works," "Papers for the People," "Miscel- lany," "Repository of Instructive and Enter- taining Tracts," and other collections, all of which were in a cheap form and widely read. " Chambers's Educational Course," which has been completed by degrees, includes works in almost every branch of knowledge, and covers the entire ground from first lessons to accom- plished scholarship. Robert Chambers de- voted much time and attention to literary and scientific pursuits, while William was the busi- ness man of the firm. Among Robert's later productions are " Ancient Sea Margins " (1848) ; the " Life and Works of Burns " (4 vols., 1851- '2), the profits of which he generously gave to the poet's surviving sister; "Essays from the Journal " (4 vols.) ; " The Domestic An- nals of Scotland " (1858) ; "The Book of Days " (1864) ; " Essays " (1866) ; and with his broth- er " Chambers's Encyclopaedia " (10 vols. 8vo, 1860-'68 ; new ed., 187l-'2). He was also, with- out doubt, the author of the " Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation," a work remarka- ble for the force with which it advocates the so- called development theory. Satisfactory evi- dence of Robert Chambers having written this work is contained in letters to his life-long friend and correspondent William Wilson of Pongh- keepsie, N. Y. He received the degree of LL. D. from the university of St. Andrews, whither he retired from active business, and spent the last three years of his life. William Chambers has contributed numerous essays to the " Jour- nal ; " has given his impressions of the United States in works entitled " Things as they are in America," and " Slavery and Color in America " (1854) ; and is the author of " Pee- bles and its Neighborhood," "About Rail- ways," "Wintering at Mentone," "Youth's Companion and Counsellor," and " Improved Dwelling Houses for the Humble and other Classes in Cities," suggested by his experi- ence in improving the dwellings of his tenantry on his estate of Glenomiester near Peebles, the cultivation and improvement of which forms a