there are some very important works at Stirling's Library. Every collector has some Bewicks, and Mr. Guild has a great many. Mr. Macgeorge has perhaps the most complete collection of Ruskin literature in existence; and Messrs. Guild, Gray, Hill, M'Grigor, Mathieson, Russell, and Young have sets more or less full of the works of Ruskin. The Mitchell Library has as many of his works as any other public library in the United Kingdom. The libraries strongest in examples of Cruikshank are those of Messrs. Macgeorge and Murdoch. Every one of the others have, however, some of his work. Dr. M'Grigor has a considerable number of works illustrated by Turner. Mr. Russell and others have the costly works of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, and Lacroix's fine works. Mrs. Jameson's books, the works of Philip Gilbert Hamerton, Shaw's "Dresses," Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes," Meyrick's "Ancient Armour," Lavater's Physiognomy," and many other beautiful books are in one or more of the libraries.

Mr. Macgeorge has a very large number of books illustrated by Blake, by Turner, and by John Leech.

Angling would appear to be a favourite sport with the Glasgow collectors, many editions of Walton and Cotton's "Angler" being in most of their libraries, and Mr. Murdoch has about seventy volumes on the piscatorial art. Mr. Murdoch has also many fine books on fishes, shells, eggs, and birds. In alchemy, animal magnetism, and the occult sciences, very few collections, if any, can match that formed by Professor Ferguson. One of its leading points is the large number of English works it contains-works not obtainable save at great cost and after long years of waiting. In music the noble but inaccessible Euing collection overshadows all the others. The only library in which books on language are unusually numerous is that of Mr. Wordie. He has many dictionaries, grammars, glossaries, and other works relating to European, Asiatic, and African

languages. Both public libraries have of course good scientific and philological sections. Fiction has found ample recognition. In addition to ordinary editions of the works of standard novelists, which are in all the libraries, first and fine editions are numerous. Mr. Young has the first editions of "Gulliver's Travels" and "Robinson Crusoe"; and the Mitchell has also the latter. Messrs. Ferguson, Macdonald, Macgeorge, M'Grigor, Murdoch, Young, and Wordie have first editions of most of the works of Dickens; and Messrs. Ferguson, Macdonald, Macgeorge, M'Grigor, Murdoch, and Russell of the works of Thackeray. Dr. M'Grigor and Mr. Macgeorge have the first edition of Vathek, the latter gentleman's copy being on thick paper. The Villon Society have found a number of subscribers in Glasgow for their edition of the Arabian Nights' Entertainment. Teubner's, Valpy's, and Bohn's editions of the classics, and many other editions of separate writers, are in the Mitchell Library. Dr. Scouler's gift to Stirling's Library contains many editions of the works of Aristotle. Mr. Russell has first editions of Chapman's translations of "Homer," and Mr. Young has early editions of "Ovid," "Seneca," "Homer," and "Virgil." Dr. M'Grigor has several modern editions, text and translations, of most of the classics.

As becomes judicious and sensible book-buyers, there is no lack of bibliographical works. The names of Brydges, Dibdin, Beloe, Allibone, Burton, Brunet, Watt, Lowndes, De Bure, Hain, Hazlitt and other famous bibliographers have become as household words with them. Of autographs, Mr. Guild has a very large collection, and presentation copies of works with autographs are frequently noted. Mr. Wordie has a very large number of books of proverbs in many languages, and also an extensive collection of anecdotal literature, and books of enigmas, epigrams, and facetiæ.

Mr. Macgeorge has many first editions of Lamb's works, some of them with notes in the author's hand

writing. Professor Ferguson has a number of books on the Gipsies, and Dr. M'Grigor has many hundreds of most interesting pamphlets on various subjects.

This finishes our general survey of the principal possessions of the sixteen libraries.

They are in many respects remarkable, and of the highest interest to Scots and more especially to Glasgowegians.

Let us hope that the day of dispersion is far off from all of them, and that rather than face the unwelcome shadow of the auctioneer many of the owners may prefer to secure for their books permanent and honoured resting-places in the public libraries of the city.

CHAPTER I.

STIRLING'S AND GLASGOW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Founder, his Ancestors, Personal Appearance, Will, and Death-Beginning of the Library--First Board of Directors.

THIS library was founded in the year 1791 by Walter Stirling, and some account of him may very properly preface a description of the institution which owes its existence to his generosity.

His father, William Stirling, was an eminent physician in Glasgow early in the last century, and was a man of more than ordinary ability and sagacity. His place was in Dispensary Close, off the High Street. He took an active interest in other matters besides those pertaining to his profession, and is mentioned by M'Ure, the first historian of Glasgow, as one of the early promoters of linen manufacture in the city, having, with three others, erected a factory at Grahamston,

then called Graham's Hall, "for weaving all sorts of Hollan-cloth, wonderful fine, performed by fine masters, expert in the curious Art of Weaving, as fine and as well done as at Harlem in Holland."

He took into partnership that Dr. Gordon who, although a distinguished surgeon, is now only remembered as the master to whom the celebrated novelist, Tobias Smollett, was apprenticed. The versatile apprentice is supposed to have had the Doctor in mind when drawing the character of Potion in his "Roderick Random." Dr. Stirling was twice married, first to Janet Smith, and second to Elizabeth Murdoch, by the latter of whom he had one son, the subject of the present notice, born in Dispensary Close on 12th December, 1723. He had also two daughters, one of whom married the Rev. Patrick Nisbet of Hatton, the other a merchant in Glasgow named Archibald Corbet.

Walter Stirling could trace his ancestry back to Robert Stirling, of Bankier and Lettyr, who died in 1537. This Robert is said to have been the nearest collateral heir of Janet Stirling, commonly called Lady Cadder. This, however, is matter of disputation among the various branches of the Stirling family, and as it is outside the province of the present work to discuss knotty questions of family history, we pass on to the consideration of what we trust are undisputed facts. Robert Stirling of Bankier had a son named John, who married Beatrice, daughter of George Elphinstone of Blythswood. From this union there were eight sons and two daughters. The sixth son, Walter, was Dean of Guild in 1630, and his autograph is given in the "View of the Merchants' House," published in 1866. Walter's grandson, John, had three sons named John, William, and Walter. John was Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1728, and his son William was the founder of the highly respected firm of William Stirling & Sons. After him Stirling Street and Stirling Square were named, these thoroughfares being made through

the garden and orchard attached to the family mansion in High Street. The second son, William, was Dr. Stirling, the founder's father. The third son, Walter, was proprietor of the lands of Shirva, near Kirkintilloch. His only son distinguished himself in the navy, and was afterwards knighted.

Of Walter Stirling, the founder of the library, not much is known. He spent a quiet, retired life, and but for his generous bequest would doubtless have sunk into that oblivion which has enshrouded many another eminently respectable citizen. He was a merchant in the city, and seems to have prospered in business. He entered into partnership with a Mr. Bell, and the firm appears in the first Glasgow Directory (1783) as Stirling, Bell & Co., Trongate. The exact location was No. 18. Mr. Stirling's name is also entered separately as of Miller Street, where he then resided. In 1775 he was added to the Councillors of the Merchant rank in the Town Council, and was elected treasurer of the burgh for the year. In the following year he took the place of John Alson, jun., as an ordinary member of Council, and was elected and chosen to bear office as Bailie of Gorbals. In 1780 he was elected to the office of Second Bailie of the Merchant rank, which he held for one year. In 1782 he retired, being disqualified on account of his seniority as a Councillor. In addition to the offices named, Mr. Stirling was elected a director of the Town's Hospital in 1776, 1779, 1780, and 1781. He became a member of the Merchants' House in 1788, under the title of a "home trader." Previous to 1779 he resided in King Street, where he possessed considerable property.

On 4th August of that year he purchased from Mr. Robert Oliphant of Rossie the dwelling-house in Miller Street which afterwards formed part of the library bequest. This house was built by Mr. James Jackson, for fifty years Postmaster of Glasgow, who sold it to Mr. Oliphant. Miller Street was formed in 1773.

It