12 



Who are we to have on the right and on the left of Lord Rosebery? 

 Who are to be our Patrons and Patronesses and Vice-Presidents ? 

 There was evidently a desire to print at the top of our Prospectus 

 an epitome of the peerage. I protested that this would be to 

 reduce Lord Rosebeiy to a figurehead. He was to be our 

 President, not because of his rank in the nobility, but because 

 he was the best man for the work. Lord Rosebery knows his 

 countrymen well — no one better; he knows the subject — Scottish 

 History — and he is no stranger to historic research ; his words 

 rightly carry the greatest weighty and if he would but consent to 

 be our leader^ the Society must be a success. A gentleman for 

 whom I had the greatest respect afterwards came to me and 

 pleaded — pleaded almost pathetically — for at least a Marquis, 

 but I would have no '^ Marquis.' It was not the coronet we 

 wanted, but the brains, the eloquent and persuasive tongue, the 

 masterful leadership, and the enthusiasm, tempered and made 

 sane with common sense and sound practical wisdom. Ladies 

 and gentlemen, as you see, I ceased to be in a minority of one. 

 May I not take credit to myself here .'' 



But do not let me sail under false colours or give me credit 

 where credit is largely due to others. Where should I have 

 been, for example, without the assistance of my true and constant 

 friend, our honorary treasurer, Mr. Clark, always at my hand 

 with the aid of his wise counsel and experience.'* Let me men- 

 tion too the name of one hardly known to any except editors, 

 one of my assistants in the Signet Library, Mr. Alexander Mill, 

 the prince of index-makers. He has burnt much midnight oil 

 in clerical work for the Society, and has practically acted as 

 my clerk. Then I look across the way to those great printing 

 presses of T. and A. Constable in Thistle Street. There is a 

 popular impression that those printing presses are machines into 

 which you chuck a quantity of copy, which emerges as a finished 

 book. I have learned what intelligence and skill are needed 

 behind the machines; and here we have had the benefit not only 

 of the commercial experience of a great firm, but of keen 

 individual interest in all that concerns the production of our 

 volumes. Look at the mere title-pages, which we wisely leave 

 to the artistic taste of Mr. W. B. Blaikie. They are, to my mind, 

 typographical masterpieces. I must not forget the Council's 

 goodness in giving me the aid of Mr. Francis Steuart as assistant 

 secretary. I am indebted to him, too, for much kindness. 



