Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/280

 268 The Library. brought to light the richness and value of our town records. Bailie Lewis Smith who was, perhaps, the most literary man in the town council when he served at various periods from 1836 to 1877, in all eighteen years made many attempts to induce the council to, at least, print their wonderful collection of charters, and, by a translation, to give the citizens an idea of the rights which they possessed but unsuccessfully. It was my good fortune, when elected to office as convener of the law committee, to plead for this before a more intelligent council, and get them to agree to this proposal. And when the town council agree to do anything, the officials may safely be trusted to do it well and handsomely. We had the good fortune to select as editor and translator, Mr. P. J. Anderson, the learned, accurate, and accomplished secretary of the New Spalding Club, ably seconded by Mr. A. M. Muriro, of the city chamberlain's office. The result is a volume which does credit to the city and all concerned in its production. In this volume there is a complete inventory of the books and MSS. in the town house, and explorers and enquirers will thus be able to lay their hands on the necessary material for any particular period of history wanted. It was also my good fortune, aided by the intelligence of the council, to get another valuable improvement adopted, which makes the council register not only more safe, but, in future, much more accessible. Down to 1884, the register was in MSS., and, of course, unique. After 1883, on a proposal of mine, the minutes of council are now printed and bound in one volume yearly, and all members are furnished with slip copies of the previous minute, and a complete copy annually. Thus the future historiographer of the city annals may have his own copy for handy reference, and thus his work made easier by my action. In any notice of Aberdeen Literature and Book-making, the influence of its two universities naturally has an important place, but treated already by Mr. Robertson, my notice must be of the briefest. So eager were Aberdonians for guidance and instruction that, as a local writer says : Oor fathers then socht for their bairns As much o' lear as cud be gi'en ; Sae Colleges they biggit twa Thae braif, bauld men o' Aberdeen.