THE doyen of the Glasgow booksellers was born at Galston, Ayrshire, near the famous "Patie's Mill," in 1831. While he was still a child his father came to Glasgow and began business as a second-hand bookseller in the Bazaar, then the centre of that trade and the haunt of the book-lovers and book collectors of the city. There at his father's stall Mr. Hopkins has seen the figures of the stalwart, plaid-girt Hugh Miller and many another famous man of letters now no more. In 1849 he began a business of his own, first at the foot of Glassford Street, and afterwards higher up. Since then he has occupied premises successively at 21 Buchanan Street, the house in which McNish, "the modern Pythagorean" is said to have been born; at 8 Royal Bank Place, in Renfield Street, and in West Regent Street. Each of these shops has been a resort of the literati and bibliophiles of Glasgow in its day. Historian and antiquarian, journalist and poet have been wont to foregather in the back room there of an afternoon. What Mr. Hopkins does not know about editions, dates, peculiarities, and values is not worth knowing, and he is a connoisseur, not only of the outsides of the books, but of their contents. In books especially dealing with old Glasgow, and with the history and literature, ballads and songs of Scotland, he has a special interest, and he possesses an amazing knowledge of them. He has acted as the intermediary in many a famous transaction, and through him have remained at home many bibliographical rarities which otherwise might have left this country. He has also published several important works, including Napier's "History of Partick," Ritson's "Scottish Songs" and quite recently, Fanjas de St. Fond's "Journey through England and Scotland to the Hebrides in 1784." Mr. Hopkins is now assisted in his business by his son.

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