Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/708

 EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

bree pounds Bteriing : the work was printed in jHo, Edinburgh, 1706. In every period of hia ife Ruddiman followed a ve^ laudable practice f makxag statements of his affairs, that he might requently see the amount of his credits and nis lebts. At the end of 1706 he drew up a retj xact state of both, whence he peroeived, that iter making every deduction, he had a clear ■alanceof £28 2i. with just expectations,amount- ng to £236 7«. 6d. Scots. Here is an example n the practice of Ruddiman, which, were it opied, would help the young to enter life with afetT,and enable the old to leave the world with omfort ! In 1707 he was induced by his habi- aal activity to commence auctioneer, for which le was well qualified by his knowledge of books .nd his punctuality in business. He naturally lealtin school-books when he instnicted scholars. u 1710, a vacancy happening in the grammar- chool of Dundee, the magistrates invited Ruddi- oan to fill the office of rector. The advocates lad, in the mean time, noted his industry, ad- nired bis learning, and respected his modesty. iVith such industry, learning, and modesty they lid not like to part, when they heard of his in- 'itation to Dundee. And, considering hit extra- <rdinary can of the library, with the increase of lis trouble, the faculty determined on July 16, 1710, to settle upon him an annual salary of £363 6t. 9d. Scots, or £30 6(. 8d. sterling, in lieu if all fees, except the small gratifications which nrere in use on the admission of advocates. He ivould have made greater profits at Dundee, yet, !rom respect to the faculty he chose rather to iccept Of their salary, than to relinquish their lemce. The young may here see another ex- tmple of modest worth being noticed by the eye >f discernment, and rewards in due season, by Jie hand of munificence. From his own state- ment we find that he was growing daily richer ; ^ut he who enters the world without a shilling, must labour many an hour before he can acquire
 * he comforts and dignity of opulence. The year

1715 may be considered as the era of Thomas Ruddiman commencing printer;* his connexion ^th the booksellers induced him to tbink that 16 too might exercise an art the handmaid of
 * hat literature to which he had devoted his life.

The first production of his press was the second rolume of Abercromby's Martial Atchievementt. The editions of the classical authora that issued from Ruddiman's press were in general printed with great accuracy, and often exhibited new readings and amendments of punctuation, in the liighest degree creditable to the ingenuity and erudition of the editor, who found leisure for the

Walter Rnddlman, dated ilMj 16, 1748, ndte, that they had begun to print from the year 1715, and that Walter had been an equal sharer In the profits and the loss, though he was only a partner In the materials, but not In &e house. Walter was not mentioned in the title-paces of books with Thomas, till Aopost, I7S7, when Wdter was admitted into partnership in the house, as he bad been drom 1715, in the materials.
 * The articles of eopartnenhip betwem Huhiih and

The cotemporary printers with Ruddiman were Kobert Fleming and Thomas Lomisden and Co., and of book- sellen, Messrs. Hamilton and Balfour.

preparation of several works of his own, among which may be particularly mentioned, a Latin grammar in two volumes, one of the most learned and elaborate performances in the whole range of philology. He completed the IHplomata et Numitmata Seolia, to which he prefixed an ex' cellent preface. If Glasgow had to boast of the ^tlettperfectioH of heiHorace, in 1744, Edin- burgh had. reason, says that able critic, Uar- wood, to triumph in the immaculate purity of Ruddiman's Livu, in 1761. Published in four volumes, 12mo. Edinbu^h, 1761. To his other qualities of prudence, of industry, and of atten- tion, Ruddiman added judgment. He did not print splendid editions of books for the public good. He did not publish volumes for the perusal of the few. But, he chiefiy employed his press in supplying Scotiand with books, which, from their daily use, had a general sale.

Neither his attention to the library, his cares for the press, nor his application to philology, prevented Ruddiman from contributing at the same time to the labours of other learned men, by the activity of his kindness, and the accuracy of his knowledge. He was always ready to give his help, when his help was asked ; " thinking it the duty of every well wisher of learning to contribute, without any mean views, all that he is able to literary works." In this noble spirit it was, that when Mr. Fletcher Gyles, bookseller, London, undertook to publish secretary Thurloe's Stau P^P'r*, Ruddiman- contributed his assist- ance. When tiie Typographical Antiquitits were published, in 1749, Ames gratefully recorded the obligations that he owed "to his worthy friend Mr. Profeuor Ruddiman, who was no small encourager of this undertaking, by the many searches for me, at Edinburah, and else- where." "Though the searches of Ruddiman," says Mr. Chalmers, "did not find all that the records contained with regard to the origin of printing, in Scotland, yet he merits commenda- tion for his useful contributions to that curious work." When Heame, the antiquary, was pre- paring his elaborate edition of Fordun's Scoti- chronicon, he experienced the aid of Ruddiman, who collated manuscripts for him and gave him his remarks. Heame spoke of Ruddiman in his

Ereface, when his Fordun appeared in 1722, as is friend, as his learned friend. They were in- deed congenial spirits : congenial in their mo- desty and diligence, in the extent of their learn- ing, and in the utility of their labours.

No amusement, no pursuit, ever prevented Ruddiman from discharging faithfully his duty as keeper of the advocates library, which office he held for nearly fifty years. He had long, laboured, with the help of Mr. Walter Goodall, his assistant, in makmg a catalogue of their books, without which the best library is useless. This catalogue had been for years commodious to the lawyers : but when it was printed in 1742, its usefulness was extended to the learned world. The prudence of Ruddiman, which was equal to his industry, was meantime careful to accu- mulate for his family what he bad acquired.

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