WILLIAM REID, bookseller, Glasgow,
composed many ludicrous little pieces in rhyme; one of these, during the
Administration of Addington, ran thus :—
"For God’s sake, Mr. Addington,
Look to the prices at Haddington."
About a century ago, when a bookseller opened a shop
in Wilson Street, with an extensive collection of divinity, Mr. Reid
composed the following verse:-
"Ye that would mend your faith and hope,
Repair to the new gospel shop:
Whene’er your faith begins to coggle,
Ye’ll be set right by Maurice Ogle."
Mr. Reid has been highly commended for his felicitous additions to
several popular Scottish songs.
He was born at Glasgow in 1764, and entered into
partnership with Mr. Brash in 1790, the firm being Reid & Brash,
booksellers. He died in 1831.
