library of the late Mr. Adam Sim of Coulter-Mains, many of whose books are now in the libraries of Glasgow gentlemen. Among the Glasgow periodicals in the library is one of which we do not remember to have seen many copies. It is entitled "The Herald to the Trades' Advocate,' and was one of the many journals called into existence by the trades' union movement. The first number was issued in September, 1830, and the last in May of 1832. In one of the numbers for 1832 it is related that so eager were the inhabitants of the city to know the result of the division in Parliament, that Sir D. K. Sandford and another gentleman met the stage-coach at Bothwell, and mounted on fleet horses galloped into Glasgow with the news about twenty minutes before the arrival of the coach. Mr. Mathieson has another volume of much local interest. It contains seventeen pamphlets (dating from 1762-4) on the Wynd Church case, a disputed settlement which occasioned much discussion in the city about the middle of the last century. It seems that by arrangement the choosing of ministers for the churches of the city lay with the general session of Glasgow and the Town Council jointly, in accordance with a scheme —called a model—agreed to in 1721. But the Council do not seem to have been satisfied with this plan, which in disputes put them in a minority, the session consisting of about four times as many persons as the Council, and on the Wynd Church being rebuilt in 1761 to meet the church needs of an increased population, they resolved to have the patronage as formerly. This action led to a most protracted case. After many meetings and unseemly wranglings, the case went to the Presbytery, from the Presbytery to the Synod, where the action of the Council was sustained, and from thence to the Assembly. The ultimate result was that the Council retained the patronage in their own hands. Many pamphlets appeared during the three years the contest lasted, some of them serious, some satirical, and some amusing. The first one in this volume is entitled "A Seasonable Address to the Citizens of Glasgow upon the present important question, whether the Churches of the City shall continue free, or be enslaved to Patronage." After adducing many arguments against the action of the Council the writer makes an appeal to the ladies, "the most beautiful part of this beautiful city." In high-flown language he thus salutes them, "For you, we toil through the maze of life, in all the circling variety of mercantile and industrious arts; for you, we hazard our lives and fortunes on the watery element, wander through foreign climes, and are proud to return laden with spoils for you. We e now court your gentle but powerful alliance. Nature has arrayed you with a profusion of charms and a thousand nameless graces, which give an irresistible sanction and influence to whatever you speak or do. Did you then declare to your husbands and lovers that you disdained the man who, when he wanted to worship his Maker, sneaked away to hear a preacher whom he despised, and to receive instructions from one who was forcibly imposed over him by the arbitrary will of another; but that you esteemed the man who insisted to hear a minister whom he himself elects as well as maintains. Hints of this nature dropped from your persuasive lips would do substantial service, conjoined with your fair example; and we would, with gratitude, accept the important tribute at your hands. Ignorance, awkwardness, pedantry, false politeness, peculiarly odious to your sex, will steal into your pulpits if patronage is established: whereas, if a popular plan of election prevails you will get the minister you wish; you will secure what I know you delight in, social gravity, shining piety, flaming oratory." By far the wittiest production in the volume is "An Exhortation to the General Session of Glasgow. By a Model ler," 1763. The writer ironically espouses the cause of the Session. Detailing the enormities of the Town Council he says, "The first innovation I shall mention is the Episcopal Chapel, which was erected some years ago, and is still tolerated, to the unspeakable offence of many of the friends of the model. I have tion even heard it whispered that the people of that persuasion have an intention to erect a popish instrument of music, upon which tunes are to be audibly played on the Lord's day within this chapel." Here is a delicious piece of fooling-"The next innovais the new method in which the Psalms are now sung. I know this has given great and grievous offence to many well-meaning men and women besides myself. A devout Christian hath now no longer an opportunity of distinguishing himself by drawing out a note for a considerable time after the rest of the congregation have finished; but must accommodate his fervour to new-fangled tunes: whereas, I am perfectly of opinion that it is the duty of every person who has the fear of God before his eyes to prolong the last note of each line as long as his breath and his lungs will permit. And I do aver, that to bring harmony into the Kirk is diametrically opposite to the spirit and essence of presbytery." Another amusing pamphlet is in the form of a prospectus of a new dictionary adapted to the times. Two pages of specimens are given from which we cull the following: "PEACEABLE MEN.-People who have no opinion of their own, but willingly submit to anybody who is disposed to lead them. Men fit to be councillors. "MEN OF SENSE.-People of the same opinion with the Council. Firebrands. The Mob. >People of a different opinion." This volume of pamphlets is valuable as recording a notable piece of city history. Sets of the works of the Rev. Dr. Ralph Wardlaw, and Dr. Macnish, the author of the Anatomy of Drunkenness, are in the library. Among the former is a copy of the "Responsibility of the Heathen," being a reply to some startling statements by Brougham in his rectorial address at Glasgow in 1825. There is also a fine large paper copy of Henderson's Scottish Proverbs, 1832. Good general books of history as Burton, Green, Grote, etc., also travel, theology, and philosophy, and works in other classes adorn the shelves; many of Jeremy Bentham's works are present; some curious medical works; Isaac Taylor's works, 17 volumes; Mackay's Popular Delusions, 3 volumes, 1841, and other works. Handsome editions of the works of Dickens, Thackeray, Lytton, and other modern novelists are here, as also is the first edition of Lane's translation of the Arabian Nights' Entertainment. Nearly all the books are most elegantly bound, some by eminent London and others by local bookbinders. They have a fine appearance, and the whole library evidences that tender care which we should look for in a collector whose bookplate bears the motto from Milton, "A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit. CHAPTER XXI. LIBRARY OF JAMES BARCLAY MURDOCH, ESQ., HAMILTON PLACE, LANGSIDE. Mr. Murdoch-Similarity and Dissimilarity of Scottish Libraries-Poetry and the Drama-The Muse's Welcome-Scottish Songs and Ballads Works of Laing and Maidment-Important Copy of the Poems of Burns-Scottish History, Topography, and Biography -Copy of Boyd's "Last Battell of the Soule," with rare 1628 title-page, once the property of Gabriel Neil, Boyd's biographer-Glasgow Books and Periodicals-—Chap-Books, two highly interesting volumes-Works Illustrated by Cruikshank-George IV. Pamphlets, extraordinary collection-Hone's Publications-Bewick-Zoology, Geology, and General Science-Legends and Fairy Tales-Bibliography-Conclusion. THIS library takes honourable rank among the libraries of the district, and is as well known as many larger collections. Mr. Murdoch has been connected in a more or less responsible way with all the important West of Scotland societies of his time, and is probably one of the most familiar figures in local literary and scientific circles. He worthily represents a family long and honourably connected with Glasgow. His forbears time and again filled the highest offices in the magistracy of the city. One of the more active members of the Council of the Hunterian Club, he has edited the important transcript of the Bannatyne Manuscript, issued in 4 volumes by the Society, and has also jointly edited various other publications of the Club. Mr. Murdoch has been for a number of |