of the astronomical works issued from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich; the Bible Society of Scotland, a collection of Bibles in various languages, 27 volumes; Institution of Civil Engineers, 23 volumes of their Proceedings, to complete the library set; His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, the costly catalogue of the library at Chatsworth, 4 volumes; Dr. A. B. M'Grigor, 131 volumes; Mr. Thomas Reid, the manuscript of an unpublished philological work by the late Dr. John Reid, a teacher of languages in Glasgow; Messrs. E. & F. N. Spon, publishers, some of their engineering and technical books, and some of the names in the previous report.

The great event of the year 1881 was the bequest by the late Bailie Moir of his large and well-chosen library, together with the residue of his estate. This is announced in the report of that year in the following terms:-" In the last report [it had been known early in the year that this bequest was made] reference was made to the important and valuable bequest made to the library by the esteemed and lamented Bailie Moir. Your committee have to report that, although the residue of the estate has not yet been transferred to the Town Council, it will, they have reason to believe, amount to about £12,000, which will, after providing for an annuity to the deceased's sister, be applicable to purchasing books, to be placed along with the books bequeathed by the testator in the Mitchell Library."

The books left by Bailie Moir were described as a "large and excellent collection of standard works in general literature. . . . The books are in admirable condition, many of them being handsomely bound. Most classes of literature are represented, the classification showing 398 books and pamphlets in Theology and Philosophy, 899 in History and Biography, 1,241 in Political, Legal, and Social subjects; 406 in Science, principally Natural History and Botany; 105 in Poetry, 19 in Linguistics, 40 in Prose Fiction, and 259

miscellaneous. The whole number added to the library by this bequest is 2,420 books and 947 pamphlets, besides which there are about 850 duplicates, by the sale or exchange of which the library will be still further enriched. The books will be kept together with such others as may be from time to time acquired from the fund left by Bailie Moir for that purpose, and in exchange for the duplicates, and will be known as the Moir Collection."" Although anticipating somewhat in point of time, this appears a convenient place to record that in the report for 1883, after the estate had been wound up, the committee state that "under the bequest of the late Bailie Moir of the residue of his estate for the purchase of books, to be known as the Moir Collection' in the Mitchell Library, a sum of £11,503 4s. 2d. has been received. In present circumstances, and while the library is so much restricted in space, it has not appeared desirable to proceed immediately with the carrying out of the objects of Bailie Moir's bequest; but when the library is provided with a larger and more adequate home the possession of this fund will enable the committee to secure for public use many of those great and costly works in Science, in Natural History, in Painting and Engraving, in Architecture, in Antiquities, in History, in Philosophy, and other subjects, which are now beyond their reach. This collection will form a memorial of our late friend such as any citizen might look forward to with pleasure, and will go far to place the library on an equality with those of other cities." The Town Council, to show their appreciation of Bailie Moir's bequest, resolved to request Mr. Mossman to prepare a bust in marble of the bailie. This has been very successfully done. Owing to the want of accommodation in the library, the bust is meanwhile kept in the City Chambers.

Another important acquisition during 1881 was the addition by purchase of the extensive and valuable

collection of editions of the works of Burns, and books illustrative of his life and writings, formed during many years by Mr. James Gibson, a native of Stirling long resident in Liverpool.

The following are among the more noteworthy of the donations of the year:-From the Secretary of State for India, more than 100 volumes relating to the antiquities, topography, statistics, industries, and natural products of India, including a number of costly illustrated works; Trustees of the British Museum, 130 volumes of the works published by their order, including the volumes descriptive of remains of ancient art, of Oriental and other inscriptions, of various departments of the library and of the natural history collections, many of them finely illustrated; Messrs. Blackie & Sons, 33 volumes; Commissioner Kerr, privately printed and manuscript materials for local biographies; "Wellwisher," very numerous additions, principally in local and Scottish literature; Preceptor Wilson, about 200 volumes and pamphlets, many relating to Glasgow.

The public to this time had continued to make increasing use of the library, and the issue of books was again larger than in any previous year.

The year 1882 saw the first diminution in the attendance of readers. This inevitable occurrence comes to most libraries in the second year; here it was postponed till the fifth. It is thus referred to in the report for the year :-" The number of volumes issued to readers was 366,225 .. as compared with the previous year a decrease of 9.28 per cent. This comparatively slight falling off cannot be considered surprising, and the fact that it was not, in the circumstances, much larger, affords a gratifying evidence of the hold on the appreciation of the citizens which the library has acquired. During the period of depression of trade and deficiency of occupation the attendance of readers at the library had increased at a very unusual rate. In the year 1879 the number

was almost double that of 1878, and during 1880 and 1881 was still further increased. In 1882 the improvement in trade had reduced very much the number of unemployed persons, and to this cause mainly is probably due the lessened issue above recorded."

The library had again received very substantial additions to its stock, the additions of the year numbering very nearly 5,000 items; but there had not been any single acquisition of equal importance to some in former years. By this time it had taken position as one of the more important libraries in Scotland, its position in point of number of volumes being now seventh, those larger being the libraries of the four universities, and the Advocates' and Signet libraries in Edinburgh. Of Scottish libraries to which the general public have a right of free access, the Mitchell Library was now the largest.

During this year, 1882, it was endeavoured to ascertain more closely than hitherto what the relation was between the number of volumes issued (which from the commencement had been carefully tabulated and registered) and the number of persons coming in to the library. It was found that for every 100 volumes issued 90 readers entered the library, of whom 37 read only the current periodicals, while 53 consulted books, and no doubt in many cases periodicals also. Each reader of books handed in, on an average, 149 readers' tickets; the number of volumes delivered to each being 1.89.

The following were among the books contributed during 1882 by the kindness of friends of the library : -From Mr. J. Wyllie Guild, a further collection of early Scottish printing, principally Glasgow, and including 21 volumes from the press of R. Urie, and 8 from that of W. Duncan-with other books, about 100 volumes; from Mr. Guild, together with the late Mr. Moses Provan, a set of the Glasgow Courier newspaper, 1816 to 1859, 44 volumes; Mr. Wm. Neilson,

Glasgow Chronicle, 1812, 1813, 1816; and numerous other works from old and new donors.

In 1883 the attendance of readers was larger than in the previous year, the number of volumes issued being 381,607. The additions of the year included a gift to the "Poets' Corner," in reference to which the committee state in their report that they "refer with very great pleasure to the gift by Mr. Alexander Gardyne, of London, of a large collection of Scottish literature, chiefly poetical. Mr. Gardyne has been for many years an assiduous collector of Scottish books in all departments of literature, and becoming much interested in the collection of Scottish poetry forming in the library under the name of the 'Poets' Corner, decided to present to it the greater part of his gatherings in that department, except such books as were already acquired. In this way the library has become possessed of a collection of books which it would have taken years of careful search and a liberal expenditure of money to purchase separately." This generous gentleman was a native of Arbroath, and had passed a large part of his life in mercantile pursuits in India and in the Mauritius. He returned to Britain more than thirty years ago, and settled in London. He had always been a lover of books, and particularly of Scottish books, and now followed his bent freely. For many years he was one of the most diligent of frequenters of book shops and stalls, and of readers of booksellers' catalogues, and by means of knowledge, patience, watchfulness, and a liberal expenditure, he gathered together a library of more than ten thousand volumes, exceptionally rich in rare and curious books. It is much to be regretted that there is a probability that this very interesting library will be dispersed. The portion of it presented to the Mitchell Library contained about 2,250 "books and booklets," the smaller being bound several in a volume.

Another noteworthy addition made this year was