Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/707

 HISTORY OF PRINTING.

linquished bu^en. His wife, Christian Ross, seems to have brought him seven children, three sons and four daughters. He died at Edinburgh, and was buried without any particular honours, and with him for a time was buried Scottish poetry, there not being so much as one poet in Scotland to sing a requiem over his srare.

1767, Jan. 19. Died, Thomas Rdddihan, a celebrated printer, grammarian, and critic, of whose talents and learning his works afford the most satisfactory proo£s. " Of the number of men," says Mr. George Chalmers,* " who hare benefited oar fathers by their studies, and added to the reputation of Great Britain by their learn- ing, few will be found to be better entitled to biographical notice, than Ruddiman, whether we consider the usefulness of his works, the mo- desty of his nature, or the disinterestedness of his roirit. His poreonal character was recom- mended by many virtues, and upon the whole he may be justly considered as an honour to his natiTe country." He was born in the parish of Boyndie, in Banfishire, October, 1674, and was initiated in grammar at the parish school there. In October, 1690, he left his home, without the knowledge of his father, and went to king's col- lege, Aberdeen, in order to gain by competition, a prize, which he had heard was annually given to genius and learning. His sister Agnes put a guinea in his pocket, which being a large contri- bution, at a needy moment, he always mentioned to her praise, and timely repaid to heroffspring.f His fauier being informed of the place and object of his excursion, hastened to Aberdeen, where he found that his son had gained an establish- ment bv his knowledge, and friends by his con- duct. On June 21, 1694, he obtained the degree of master of arts, of which he appears to have been always proud. In April, 1795, he obtained the situation of schoolmaster of Lawrence Kirk, in the Meams, partly by the recommebdation of Robert Young, esq. of Auldbar, in the county of Forfar, in whose family he had been engaged as tutor, though perhaps as much by his own repu- tation for diligence and learning. Ruddiman did not relinquish his studies when he left the college of Aberdeen, though he was not then twenty years of age. His dtligence began early, and continued late in life. In the village of Lawrence Kirk, his diligence naturally pursued the precept which his reading had taught him :

" Bxerce stadlam, qaamTis perceperls artem."

It was towards the end of the year 1699, that an accident opened new prospects to his penetra-

life of Thomas Ruddiman, by Mr. Georf^ caialmers, sro. 1794, In which will be found a portrait, and a list of capital works from the RuMiman press, fh>m lOiM to 17sS.
 * Hie reader is referred to the verj ample and excellent

In the Cattdomiim Mercurf of Janoary 97, 17S7, there to a brief, but aOlectlonate, character of Ruddiman, by the rev. William Harper, senior, one of the ministers of the qriaeopal <Aarch, Edinborgh i and in the SeoU Magtmku, page M, there is a short account ij him and his writings.

t Agnes was married to a person named Reid : she left a daughter, who ftiUing into poverty, was relieved by Roddiman, through the solicitation of bishop Falconer, in 17Ct.

ting right. The celebrated Dr. Pitcaime, bei^r detains by violence of weather at this incoos- derable hunlet, which had not yet a library at the inn, felt the misery of having nothing to da Wanting society, he inquired if thete w«x» ae person in the village who could interchange coa- venation, and would partake of his dinner. The hostess informed him, that the schoolmaMs, though young, was said to be learned, and thoegh modest, she was sure could talk. Thus rati. A- caime,* at the ageof forty-seven, with Roddiman, at twenty-five. Their literature, their polities, and their general cast of mind were mntoalhr pleasing to each other. Pitcaime invited Rod- diman to Edinburgh, offered him his patronage, and performed in the end, what is not always experienced, as much as he originally promised. On the 2nd of May, 1702, Ruddiman made his first entry as assistant librarian to the advocates' library in Edinburgh.f His connection with the booksellers of that city commenced in 1706; owing to their desire of nelp, and to his wish fat gain. He no doubt felt —

« Cum mercede labor gratior ease potect"

And he was, from this consideration, probaUk induced to correct, in 1706, sir Robert Sibbaldi Introduetio ad Hutoriam rerum a' Rommius Go- tarum in ta BomUit Brittttmite paetr qua mbn mvnm Pictintm ett. From Robert Freebainj bookseller, Ruddiman received for his i

• Archibald Pitcaime, the fHend of BdUoi. Uie in. oeptor of BoerliaaTe, and the master of Mead, was bota at Edinburgh in I6ss, and died at the age cf aixty.aM; Oct. S3, I7IS. He studied divinity, and afterwards lav, at the nnivenlty of hi* native place ; Init quitted balk those professions far mathcmatici and medlciiie. tBm publishing a thesis, in which he endeavoured to prove tte the doctrine of tile circulation of the blood was kmwB Is Hippocrates, he accepted an invitation fh>m the i^uistou itf the university of Leyden, to be professor of pliyiic is Iflss. He did not conUnne at Leyden alx3ve a.year, M returned to Edinburgh and married. In 17VI he p^. lislied Dtmartationa MtHem, one voL 4to. of wtiich te printed a more correct edition in 1713. He also wtoIk some Latin poems of the satirical kind, cliiefly agaiatf the principal antluns of the revolutian.

t Sir George Mackenzie, of Roaehangb, who was hm in 1738, and died in lOvi, after rising to the head of hii profession as a lawyer, and to eminence in literutnrc as a scholsr, to entitled to the honoor of founding the adm- cates* library, wi^ieh took place in the year iGst. Lftc other establidiments, its commencement was inconsider- able, its funds were uncertain, and its progress in xSSSSj was slow. But frequent contributions aoguie ute d Jn numerous volmnes, both printed and manuscripts. It was first kept in Mills-square ; and in May, I7«s, It was re- moved to the parHsmenMionse.

t Ruddiman charged Fteebaim, for correctiiig G. S. [Gawin Douglas's Virgil] writing the Ofossorjr, ahnndicd pounds Scots, of wbic£ he acknowledged to have l e ueh e* forty-eight pounds. By tlito document to the antlioniiif ascertained, and by this evidence is it proved, tiiat Rud- diman was allowed ^8 6s. 8d. sterling, rar pofonniiig amt of the most elaborate works in our language.

In Ruddiman*s pocket-book are the foUowlsg esitztos: 1703, Received of the university of Glasgow jn& ScoB, for transcribing a manuscript called Biiraeta a Chmmidi ScoMc.— 24 March, 1704, received of the same jff47 Soots, for transcribing the first volume of sir James BaUort ilfmalt of 414 folios. October 1705, received of Mr. Hamilton, ttj Ss. for transcribing nineteen abeeta of s manuscript.— 8 November 170s, I resolved (try God^ assis t a n ce) to write as much as I am able of the ii«aa- script I shall have occasion to transcribe ; and to take exact notice of the progress I make weekly. I (God vrilling) to write six sheets a week.