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del, Esq. of Glenriddel, set on foot a species of circulating library, on a plan so simple as to be practicable in any corner of the country; and so useful as to deserve the notice of every country gentleman, who thinks the improvement of that part of his own species, whom chance has thrown into the humble walks of the peasant and the artisan, a matter worthy of his attention.

Mr. Riddel got a number of his own tenants, and farming neighbours, to form themselves into a society for the purpose of having a library among themselves. themselves. They entered into a legal engagement to abide by it for three years; with a saving clause or two, in case of removal to a distance, or of death. Each member, at his entry, paid five shillings; and at each of their meetings, which were held every fourth Saturday, six-pence more. With their entry money, and the credit which they took on the faith of their future funds, they laid in a tolerable stock of books at the commencement. What authors they were to purchase, was always decided by the majority. At every meeting, all the books, under certain fines and forfeitures, by way of penalty, were to be produced; and the members had their choice of the volumes in rotation. He whose name stood for that night first

on the list, had his choice of what volume he pleased in the whole collection; the second had his choice after the first; the third after the second; and so on to the last. At next meeting, he who had been first on the list at the preceding meeting was last at this; he who had been second was first; and so on through the whole three years. At the expiration of the engagement, the books were sold by auction, but only among the members themselves; and each man had his share of the common stock, in money or in books, as he chose to be a purchaser or not.

At the breaking up of this little society, which was formed under Mr. Riddel's patronage, what with benefactions of books from him, and what with their own purchases, they had collected together upwards of one hundred and fifty volumes. It will easily be guessed, that a good deal of trash would be bought. Among the books, however, of this little library, were, Blair's Sermons, Robertson's History of Scotland, Hume's History of the Stuarts, The Spectator, Idler, Adventurer, Mirror, Lounger, Observer, Man of Feeling, Man of the World, Chrysal, Don Quixote, Joseph Andrews, &c. A peasant who can read and enjoy such books, is certainly a much superior being to his neighbour, who perhaps stalks beside his team, very

little removed, except in shape, from the brutes he drives.

Wishing your patriotic exertions their so much-merited success,

Ia

I am,

Sir,

Your humble Servant,

A PEASANT.

The above is extracted from the third volume of Sir John Sinclair's Statistics, p. 598.-It was inclosed to Sir John by Mr. Riddel himself in the following letter, also printed there :

"SIR JOHN,

"I inclose you a letter, written by Mr. Burns, as an addition to the account of Dunscore parish. It con"tains an account of a small library which he was so good "(at my desire) as to set on foot, in the barony of Monk"land, or Friar's Carse, in this parish. As its utility has "been felt, particularly among the younger class of peo"ple, I think, that if a similar plan were established in "the different parishes of Scotland, it would tend greatly "to the speedy improvement of the tenantry, trades

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"people, and work people. Mr. Burns was so good as to take the whole charge of this small concern. He was "treasurer, librarian, and censor, to this little society, who "will long have a grateful sense of his public spirit and "exertions for their improvement and information.

"I have the honour to be, Sir John,

"Yours most sincerely,

"ROBERT RIDDEL."

To Sir John Sinclair,

of Ulbster, Bart.

No.

No. LXXXIX.

To CHARLES SHARPE, Esq.

OF HODDAM,

Under a fictitious Signature, inclosing a Ballad, 1790 or 1791.

It is true, Sir, you are a gentleman of rank and fortune, and I am a poor devil: you are a feather in the cap of society, and I am a very hobnail in his shoes; yet I have the honour to belong to the same family with you, and on that score I now address you. You will perhaps suspect that I am going to claim affinity with the ancient and honourable house of Kilpatrick: No, no, Sir: I cannot indeed be properly said to belong to any house, or even any province or kingdom; as my mother, who for many years was spouse to a marching regiment, gave me into this bad world, aboard the packetboat, somewhere between Donaghadee and Portpatrick. By our common family, I mean, Sir,

the

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