40 Otp PusLic LIBRARIES IN DUMFRIES. 
cal, but there are many of general interest, including classics in 
the original, and French and Spanish works. There are many 
collections of Acts of Parliament, and many English classics of 
great value, including Sir Thomas Browne, Sir Walter Raleigh, 
Bacon, Butler, Baxter, Samuel Rutherford, etc. That many odd 
books had crept into the collection is apparent from the following 
entries :—“ Balmford’s Application of Habbakuk’s Prayer to the 
Present Times,’’ “ Beddle Dispossessed, or his Catechism Re- 
formed,’’ “ Byefield on Mineral Waters,’’ “ Bradshaw on Justifica- 
tion,’’ “ Beer: Warm Preferable to Cold,’’ etc. There is also 
quite a collection of books on fruit culture. Many of the entries 
are of great interest to the bibliographer, including as they do a 
great many first and curious editions. 
There is an abiding tradition to the effect that the library con- 
tained a prayer book which was used by Charles the First at his 
execution. ‘Two Common Prayer Books, dated respectively 1637 
and 1549, appear among the entries, though the former, being a 
folio, is not likely to have been the book in question. 
I have here also the record-book of issues—unfortunately also 
incomplete. The first entry is “ July 12, 1732, given out to Mr 
Robinson, The Feeholder (a book edited by Addison) and Watts 
on Practical Religion,’”’ the entry being signed by Alex. Robisone. 
Names occurring frequently in the book are Ed. Buncle, Geo. 
Duncan, W. M‘Millan, Rob. Patoun, Will. Irvine, Luke Gibson, 
Rob. Wight. 
This issue-book also reveals the fact that in 1736 an arrange- 
ment was come to by which citizens might use the library on the 
payment of a fee. | The entry is as follows :—* March 8th, 1736. 
—The names of those who entered cives and agreed to observe the 
rules relating to the library on their part, which by their respective 
subscriptions they oblige themselves to do—-John Gilchrist, Jo. 
Hynes, Thos. Kirkpatrick, Jas. Dickson, Jas. Ewart, Alex. Cop- 
land.’’ The next entries are for the second year, and the sub- 
scription is five shillings. ‘These entries finish with the name of 
Capt. Riddell of Caryeld (Carzield?), Feb. 22, 1771. 
Nothing more have I been able to find about this Presbytery 
library until 1885. The Presbytery-house at this time had got 
into a semi-ruinous condition, and the books were in a very 
neglected state. A committee was appointed, consisting of Dr 
Wilson, Mr Underwood, and the Rev. Mr Weir, which attempted 
