Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/285

 Aberdeen : Its Literature, Bookmaking, and Circulating. 273 of the " Biographical Dictionary," Dr. John Abercrombie, James Gibbs, the architect of St. Martin's, London, and of the Radcliffe Library, Oxford ; Dr. Thos. Reid, the founder of the Scottish School of Metaphysicians, and Dr. John Ogilvie, of dictionary fame. These all stand out singly, and bulk as eminent men ; but there are whole families from the place the Barclays and Burnetts ; the Forbeses and Fordyces ; the Gerards and Jaffrays ; the Gordons and Grants ; the Gregorys and Keiths ; the Menzies and Skenes ; who figure in the annals of literature, and were potential influences in producing and circulating it in their native place and elsewhere. Coming down to modern times we can boast of Dr. Joseph Robertson, of Dr. John Stuart, of John Hill Burton, who has left a successor, of Dr. George Grub, and of the late lamented Professor Minto, who promised to become a star of the first magnitude. It is with great pleasure, but in the softest whisper for, living amongst the men I am greatly restrained in my otherwise outspoken speech I mentioned that, nurtured by the spartan- like fare of the first Edinburgh Reviewers " Tenui musem meditamur avena " by good Scotch oatmeal, and influenced by the Shorter Catechism, we have still amongst us as bookmakers such men amongst others as Sir Wm. Geddes, the learned editor of the Musa Latina Aberdonenses ; Dr. Wm. Alexander, the photographer and preserver of our local dialect in Johnny Gibb ; Dr. John Mclntosh, the historian, and a brilliant example of Scottish pluck and perseverance in the attainment of fame ; Dr. Alex. Cruickshank, a voluminous writer, but whose modesty has shrunk from publicity or even recognition ; Principal Brown ; Dr. Cooper of the East Church ; and the Rev. Robert Lippe. I might mention others biographers of Aberdeen Doctors Apologists of Queen Mary erudite writers on Jiist Intonation, and a whole host of local poets, but I spare their blushes. And now both time and space, and also your interest all failing me, I conclude, by saying that amongst the most eminent of modern men, Professor W. Robertson Smith worthily main- tains the honour and credit of Aberdeen nurture, both in England and abroad ; and that shining brilliantly in our northern firmament yet educating and illuminating the world, by works having to my knowledge a larger circulation than those of almost any living author have we not still amongst us, and long may he so continue Dr. Alexander Bain. GEORGE WALKER.