Catalogue of the library of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh > Part the first

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his admifTion, paid a certain fum, the Faculty appropriated a part of it to
the Library ; and, as this fam has been fince gradually augmented, fo has
the proportion of it allotted to the Library.
Since the eftablilliment of a regular fund, the colledlion of books has
been greatly increafed. For fome years pad the revenue has been much
augmented ; and by the prudent and faithful adminiflration of the Cui-a-
tors, tha Faculty are now in pofielTion of more than twenty-five thoufatldr
volumes.
In mentioning the benefacfhors of this Library, it would be ungrateful to
forget the learned and induftrious Mr. Thomas Ruddiman, who was ad¬
mitted one of the Librarians in the beginning of this century, and continued'
in that office, till he refigned it in 1752. To his zeal for the profperity of
the inftitution, and to his unwearied care and attention, during fifty years
which he fpent in their fervice, the Faculty owe the prefent flourilhing Hate
of their Library, and the mofl valuable part of their great colledlion.
When this Library was firft formed, the Faculty adapted their views
to the limited ftate of their funds. They confined their firft purchafes
almoft entirely to books of Law ; but as their funds gradually increafed,
they came to extend their plan, and enriched their Library with books
in every branch of polite literature. While no branch has been negledled,
it has been more peculiarly the objedl of the Faculty to render as compleat
as poffible t'aeir collection of books on the Lanv^ Hijiory^ and Antiquities of
Great Bri'jlain. Upon the Hijlory^ Laiv^ and Antiquities, of moft other
European nations, their coUedlion is confiderable. In the 1707, the Facul¬
ty received a la;ge donation of books in Natural Hiftory, to which they
have added man)- of the moft coftly and magnificent books on that branch
of fcience. Their ^olledlion of authors on the Civil and Canon Law is very-
full ; that of the mtft valuable editions of the Greek and Roman claffics
is nearly compleat; md that of the modern claflics is compleating with
care and attention.
Besides printed books, the Library contains a large coUeifllon of manu-
fcripts of great value. In 1698, the Faculty purchafed, at a confider¬
able expence, all thofe fcarct and curious manufcripts, which had been col-
led:ed by Sir James Balfour of Denmylne, Lyon King at Arms. Since that
time, they have acquired many valuable additions to their collection.
Among others, there are here not only moft of the antient Scottifti chartu-
laries, but likewife many volumes of original papers, relating to the afiuirs
of Scotland, and copies of others, which have been preferved by Sir Ro¬
bert Cotton, or are extant in the public offices in England.
In