, 'v "*■' '/ BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH PERIODICAL LITERATURE AND POLITICAL BROADSIDES BY J. M. M'BAIN F.S.A., Scot., BANKER, ARBROATH. Ant/tor of '' Arbroath: Past and Present,'" -'Arbroath Poets and their Songs,'' ar'c. Hrbroatb : BRODIE & .SALMON D, BROTHOCK BRIDGE. MDCCCLXXXIX. r^\ j^U'-JD , .J A(oM\a. PREFACE. N its nature, the periodical press is very ephemeral. Of the many million copies annually thrown off, how few attain to the dignity of preservation. Newspaper editors, and a few ■^^j\^ of their antiquarianly-inclined subscribers, file and bind their papers, but, as a rule, the many million copies of our dailies and weeklies find themselves old, worn-out, and cast aside ere they attain the age of twenty-four hours. Of an immense number of periodicals which, during the last hundred years or so, have been born and have died, no vestige remains to tell how they looked or what they tried to teach. It is to be regretted that these should be allowed to pass away without leaving some memorial of their having existed. A history of the periodical press of the nation would be both interesting and useful, but the task of writing such would be a herculean, and, if attempted by a single individual, an impossible one. The work, if ever undertaken, must first be done for each locality by someone possessing local knowledge, without which it would have little real value. In the following pages I have attempted to do for Arbroath, what I hope to see done, in course of time, for every city, town, and village through- out the kingdom, that can boast of a periodical press. When the whole has been accomplished, the work of the compiler of "A history of the periodical press of Great Britain and Ireland " will have become a possible one. The first part of this volume is devoted to the history of Arbroath periodicals. The second part, which I hope will be found no less interest- ing, narrates the political history of Arbroath during the stirring times which 807273 PREFACE. centred in the Reform days of '32. At that period no newspaper or other periodical was published in Arbroath, hut a collection of Political and Municipal Broadsides, which has been preserved, in a measure supplies the place of those repositories of local history. From tliis bundle of time-stained and tattered memorials of tlic past, we learn tliat our forefathers took a keen and intelligent interest in tlie social and political advancement of llie nation, and that they stood manfully in the forefront of the battle of Reform. J. M. M'BAIN. RlUTISH LiNKN Co. B.\NK HoUSE, Arukoatii, Auoust, iSSg. CONTENTS. I'AGR. Introduction, --...-.. 9 Periodical Literature — Arbroath as an Ancient Seat of Learning, - - - - 13 A Literary Revival, ....... 14 Introduction of a Printing Press, ----- 15 The Arbroath Magazine, - - - - - - 15 Introduction of Book Printing, ------ 18 District Newspapers, -...-.. 19 The Arbroath Argus, - - - - - - - 20 The Arbroath Journal, - - - - - - -21 Memoranda of the Abbey, -.-... 23 The Arbroath Miscellany, ...... 23 The Arbroath Herald, ------- 24 The Arbroath Argus Redivivus, . .... 26 The Arbroath Guide, .------ 26 The Pennyworth, ....... 28 The Arbroath Journal and General Advertiser, - - - 30 Saturday Evening Guide, --.... ^o Arbroath and Forfar News and Angus Advertiser, - - - 31 Aberbrothock Club, ....... 32 The Arbroath Herald, ------- 33 The Ruskin Reading Guild Journal, ----- 54 Year Books^ Bremnar's Almanac and Local Register, - - - - 36 Hood's Forfarshire Almanac, ------ 37 The Arbroath Year Book and Fairport Almanac, - - 1 - 37 Denominational Publications — The Presbyterian, ....... 39 Local Supplements, ....... 41 The Ladyloan Free Church Supplement, - - - - 42 Knox Free Church Supplement, ..... 42 3t Mary's Banner of Faith, - t - - - - /^2 CONTENTS. The Arbroath Parish Magazine, ■ - • - - 43 Princes Street U. P. Congregational Record, - - - - 45 East Free Church Monthly, --...- 45 High Street Free Church Monthly, ----- 46 Man uscRi rr M acazi n es — Fairport Mutual Improvement Association Magazine, - - 48 The Fairport Magazine, - - - - - "5' The Manse Journal, ------- 52 The Ruskin Reading Guild Journal, ----- 54 Political Broadsides — Agitation for Parliamentary Reform, ----- 60 Indignation at the Peers' Rejection of Reform Hill, - - - 63 Skirmish between Mr Hume and Mr Ross, - - - - 65 Passing of the English Reform Bill, - . ... 67 Passing of the Scotch Reform Bill, ----- 68 Electioneering Campaign, -..--. 69 Electioneering Literature, ------ 72 Charges of Bribery, ------- 74 Action of Non-Electors, ------ 75 Result of Election, ------- 76 A Famous Legal Action, ------ 78 Bribery Repudiated, - - - - - - - 81 County Election, -.---.. g2 Dissatisfaction with Mr Ross, ------ 82 A Ministerial Crisis, --.--.. 86 Retiral of Mr Ross, - - - - - - - 91 The Electors "Lectured," ------ 92 Election of Mr Chalmers, ------ 93 The County Election — A Contest, ----- 94 Humorous Election Stjuit), ...... g6 English Corporation Reform Bill, - .... 97 Congratulatory Address to Mr CliaJmers, .... 99 Municipal Broadsides — Burgh Reform, ....... 103 The Police Act, - - - - - - - no The Harbour, - - - - - - - - 114 Railway Matters, • . ■> • » • • 116 PART I. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. I NTRODUCTION. a<:^ @^j -■♦■•'♦ HEN Paul made his memorable visit to Athens we are told that " all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing." That this cultured people were not content with the oral interchange of the news of the day, but had their written record of passmg events, we may be sure. Long before the day when Paul delivered his famous oration on Mars Hill, the Romans had their public journal : first, their " Annales Maximi," recording the leading events of the year, and later, their " Acta Diurna," a publication which contained much the same class of news as we find in the newspapers of the present day. The following freely translated paragraphs from these " Acta Diurna," will afford a fair idea of their contents : — " On 26th July thirty boys and forty girls were born on the Estate of Cuma, belonging to Trimalchio." " On same day Mithradates, a slave, was crucified for speaking irreverently of our master's tutelary genius." " A fray took place in a tavern at the lower end of Banker Street, in which the keeper of the Hog-in-Armour Tavern was dangerously wounded." " Tertinus, the pedile, fined butchers for selling meat which had not been B 10 BlIUJOGRAPIIY OF ARBROATH inspected by the overseers of the market." " The broker, Ausidius, fled from town to-day, taking money with him belonging to other people." The history of the newspaper in modern times is an e.xceedingly interesting one. The Germans, we believe, can claim the honour of being the first nation in Europe to introduce the newspaper. The earliest productions of the kind in England — which, like their German fore- runners, were in manuscript — were called " news letters," and were chiefly written by dependents of noblemen, who employed the writers to keep them advised during their absence from Court, of what was taking place there. Some of these writers would have more patrons than one, and the same news would be sent to each. In the i6th century "news pamphlets" were not uncommon. They kad no fixed name nor regular time of issue, the title being derived from the chief event narrated, thus — " Newes from Germanie," or in war times, "Newes of the Battle" — and such like. About the beginning of the 17th century the first authentic periodical newspaper was published in England. It was sometime before Scot- land followed. From the middle of the 1 7th century various papers \vere published m Scotland. The first of these was "A Diurnal of some Passages and Affairs," printed at Leith, Number I. being dated Novem- ber, 1652 ; but only twelve monthly numbers appeared. It may be of some interest, however, to note that this paper was first printed and pub- lished in London, and was thereafter re-printed in Leith. Other papers, chiefly devoted to Scotch affairs, were printed and published in London. "The Scot's Scout's Discoveries " (1642) "The Scotch Intelligencer" (1643) "The Scot's Dove Sent Out and Returning " (1643) "Intelli- gence from the Borders of Scotland, written from Edinburgh" (1644) " Mercurius Scoticus " (1652) " The Theme or Scot's Presbyter" (1652) INTR OD UC TION. 1 1 and " Mercurius Politicus " — this, like the "Diurnal," making its appear- ance first in London and thereafter in Leith (1653.) The first newspaper entirely written, printed and published in Scot- land, was the " Mercurius Caledonius." It began on 31st December, 1660, and expired on 22nd March, i66r. It was edited by Thomas Sydserf, son of the Bishop of Orkney. Between this date and 1680 various papers, devoted to Scotch interests, were printed in London, and were either published or re-printed and published in Scotland. But it was not till 1705, when the "Edinburgh Courant" appeared, that Scotland can be said to have had a genuine newspaper of its own. This paper was for a time edited by the celebrated Daniel Defoe. In 17 10 the " Scot's Courant " appeared. Other Scotch papers followed, all published in Edinburgh till 17 15, when Glasgow appeared in the field with the "Glasgow Courant." In 1748 came Aberdeen with her " Journal." From then till now such publications have gone on increas- ing in number and influence. For the first half of the i8th century, as we have shewn, the publication of Scottish newspapers was confined to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. After that other towns followed, but owing to fiscal restrictions their progress was slow. While the news- paper press was prized by the people who were longing for political freedom, it was looked upon with much disfavour by many in power. " You must curb the press," said Southey to Lord Liverpool, " or it will destroy the constitution of the country. No means can be eflfectual for checking the intolerable license of the press, but that of making trans- portation the punishment of its abuse." Every effort was made to limit its circulation ; one expedient being to tax it. At first each paper, half a sheet or less, was charged a duty of a half-penny, and for each sheet a penny, but while this had the effect of crushing a number of papers, it failed to put down others whose existence was obnoxious to the 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH opponents of a free press. By degrees the stamp duty was raised till it reached a charge of fourpence on each paper, besides a duty of one shilling and sixpence on each advertisement which appeared in its columns. The passage of the Reform Bill awakened a keener desire for information, and the pressure of the duty on these vehicles of public news was felt all the more keenly. In 1833 Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer moved the repeal of the newspaper duty, and in this he was supported by William Roebuck, but they failed to carry the measure. Nothing daunted however, the advocates of repeal persevered in their endeavours, and they were so far successful that in 1836 the duty was reduced from fourpence to a penny. The opponents of repeal were greatly enraged, and they prophesied that most awful consequences would result from this step, declaring that a cheap press would only be a profligate press. One member proposed a repeal of the soap duty instead, which, he said, would be a greater boon to the working classes. Notwithstanding these alarming prognostications, the newspaper press, which in 1855 was set entirely free from these fiscal trammels by the repeal of the stamp duty, without these dreadful results following, has steadily grown in influence and power, proving itself a lever by which the masses have been elevated politically and socially. The periodical press which has thus grown in power, has also in recent years increased enormously in number. Not only every city, but every town and nearly every village has its local paper, and as each of these contains the very material from which history is obtained, they assume in this, as in other respects, considerable importance. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH I.— PERIODICAL LITERATURE. EFORE proceeding to trace the history of the periodical press of Arbroath, some reference to the intellectual condition of the burgh prior to the starting of a local printing press will be necessary. The circumstances amid which the need for some convenient record of public news grew up, and the steps in the path which, through the intervening years, has brought us to our present position, are naturally most interesting. We will deal with these, however, as briefly as possible. BrDroatb as an Bncicnt Scat of Xcarnin^. Historians are largely indebted to the monastic writings of Arbroath for the ample materials which these supply for the elucidation of the early liistory of our country. The Chartulary of Aberbrothock has proved an invaluable repository of information, extending over a period of from three to four centuries, and referring, as it does, not only to the monastic and parochial economy, but to the educational and agricultural history of tht- period. It also 14 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH throws considerable light on the jurisprudence and internal government of the country. The Abbey of Arbroath, one of the richest monasteries in Scotland, was also one of the chief seats of learning in the country for two or three centuries. Besides contributions to the ordinary literature of the period, documents of great historical imjKDrt- ance were written within its walls. As a monastic school, the Abbey sent forth men who rose to considerable eminence, and whose names found a permanent place in Scottish history. But with the decay of the Romish church came the extinction of this once famous seat of learning, and for nearly three centuries we have little or no information regarding the intellectual life of the Burgh. B TLlterars IRcvfval. During the last decade of the eighteenth century there appears to have been a shaking among the dry bones, and an intellectual resurrec- tion followed. At this period there is evidence that Arbroath possessed a few men of literary tastes, the leading spirit among whom was Alex- ander Balfour, at first a clerk and afterwards a manufacturer or green cloth merchant. Through his instrumentality a Literary Club was formed, at which papers were read and topics of a literary, philosophical, and social nature discussed. In £797 a movement was set afoot for tlie establishment of a Public Library. The project was eagerly taken \.\\i. and on the 24th August of that year the constitution was adopted, and the Library started with forty-seven subscribers.* The official record of the Listitution bears the signatures not only of these forty-seven, but of subsequent members. * In " .Yrbroath : Past and Present " this date was inadvertently given as 1 791. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 15 The list is an interesting one, containing as it does names still familiar from the prominent position their possessors then held in the burgh ; municipal dignitaries, clergymen, lawyers, doctors and merchants ; besides several landed proprietors in the neighbourhood. As in the Literary Society, so in the Library, Alexander Balfour took a prominent part. That his services were thoroughly appreciated by his contem- poraries, is evident from the fact that he was elected an honorary member, a distinction, so far as we can learn, never since conferred on any other person. The minutes bear that honorary membership was conferred on him " as a reward of his literary merit, and in consideration of the trouble bestowed by him in assisting to form the library." 5ntroDuction of a iprinting ipress. So far as we can learn, it was not till this period of intellectual revival that Arbroath possessed a printing press of her own. About the year 1798, John Findlay started business in Arbroath as a printer and publisher. During his residence here, of somewhat less than twenty years, he showed a good deal of mercantile and literary activity. One of his first ventures was the introduction to Arbroath of a periodical magazine. In the following pages we shall endeavour to give a chronological account of the various local periodicals which have been issued from the Arbroath press, and at the same time say .some- thinir about the chief contributors tliereto. t> 1799. JTbe Bvbroatb /Ifcacjaiine. The "Arbroath Magazine:" October, 1799. Monthly, 48 pp., demy 8vo., printed and published by John Findlay. Although designed to take its place as a newspaper, it really contained little i6 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH "news." Beyond the sailings of vessels to and from the port; births, deaths, and marriages ; the Arbroath assize of bread ; the prices current of grain ; a list of local magistrates ; and an occasional paragraph recording some passing event, it contained little or nothing of local interest. Portions of a very brief history of Arbroath occupied two or three pages of each of the first three numbers. The rest of the contents were made up of essays and poetry. After lingering for a year, its existence terminated. This was neither for want of energy on the part of the publisher nor of talent on the part of its contributors. Of those whose names we know as being included in the list of contributors, two afterwards became well known as literati. David Carey, a native of Arbroath, and then quite a young man, wrote for the "Arbroath Magazine." After leaving Arbroath he went to Edinburgh, where he was for a time employed in the publishing house of Archibald Constable. From thence he went to London, where he filled various posts in connection with the periodical press. While there he displayed great ability in advocating the measures of the Whig party, whose side he espoused. This brought him under the notice of Mr Wyndham, who offered him a colonial appointment, which, however, he declined. On the change of ministry he wrote a telling satire on their successors entitled " Ins and Outs, or the State of Parties, by Chronon- hotonthologos," two large editions of which were sold out within a week or two after their appearance. Carey afterwards filled the editorial chair of the " Inverness Journal " for al)out five years. He was an author of considerable ability and versatility, a poet, a novelist, and a successful pamphleteer. While in London he iiublished " Pleasures of Nature, or the Charms of Rural Life," and other poems. "The Reign of I'Vmry, a Poem," "Lyric Tales," ".Secrets of the PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 17 Castle," a novel in 2 vols., besides " Ins and Outs," to which we have already referred. While in Inverness he published, among other works, a volume of poems, containing " Craig Phadric, Visions of Sensibility, Legendary Tales, and Occasional Pieces," Inverness, 181 1. This volume is now chiefly valuable for the notes to the piece " Craig Phadric," which contain valuable information on the early history of Inverness. The other contributor referred to, and who, we have reason to believe, acted in the capacity of editor of the magazine, was Alexander Balfour, poet and novelist, to whose connection with the Arbroath Library we have already referred. He was a native of Monikie, in the neighbourhood of Arbroath. In 1793 he obtained a situation m Arbroath, and four years thereafter he commenced business as a canvas manufacturer on his own account. From the time of his coming to Arbroath till the end of his life, he assiduously cultivated literature, latterly as a profession. To the "Aberdeen Magazine" (1796), the " Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany," published by Symington, the " Dundee Magazine," and to other periodicals, he was a frequent contributor. For Dr Brewster's Encyclopaedia, he wrote an account of Arbroath, and to the " Northern Minstrel," published in Newcastle ; the "Literary Mirror," by Murray, Montrose; the "Temple of the Muses," a London publication, he contributed a large number of songs and poems. Some of his patriotic songs were re-published in London, set to music, and during the French War, were exceedingly popular in this country. Among his permanent works were " Campbell, or the Scottish Pro- bationer," " Weeds and Wild Flowers," " Contemplation," " Characters omitted in Crabbe's Parish Register," &c., &c. The friendship formed between Balfour and Carey, during the former's Arbroath residence, remained unbroken till the death of the latter in 1824. i8 BIBLIOGRArilY OF ARBROATH Notwithstanding the able literary assistance which Findlay got from Carey, Balfour, and others, the pecuniary support was not sufficient to warrant the continuance of the magazine, and it came to an untimely end in 1800. Jntro^uction of :fl3ooh priiitinci. But althout^h unsuccessful witli the Magazine, Findlay's literary and commercial enterprise found other outlets. At that time the London publishers were largely supplied by provincial printers, Arbroath, Mon- trose, and Perth taking no mean place in providing this supply. Findlay, from time to time, printed and published a large number of works. One of the largest of these was " HoUinshed's Scottish Chronicle," or a complete history and description of Scotland. The prospectus of the work states — (i) that the work will be comprised of 14 numbers, making two handsome volumes, quarto ; (2) each number will contain sixty-four pages letterpress, price one shilling, to be paid on delivery • and (3) that a list of such subscribers as chuse to have their names pre- fixed to the work shall be printed in the last number. The work, which was remarkably well got up, is now rather interesting, containing as it does the names of some well-remembered and notable citizens. In 1803 Findlay printed and published an edition of Burns' Poems (now very .scarce), and another edition of same in 181 2. In 1805, Ossian's Poems and a number of other popular works followed. The most of those books, while bearing to be printed in Arbroath, also bear the London imprint. Many of them bore the name of Lackington, Allan & Co., of London, aiid other famous metropolitan publishers of the day. "Tolland's History of the Druids," which Findlay published in tSt3, was the cause of a bitter disinite between him and Robert Iluddleslone, of Lnnan, the etlitor of an edition of Tolland then [jublish- ing in Montrose. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 19 2)istvict 1Re\V5papers. Notwithstanding the enterprise of Findlay, he attempted nothing further in the shape of a newspaper, and Arbroath, for a considerable time, had to depend on the neighbouring towns for its foreign, domestic, and political information. Three months after the death of the " Arbroath Magazine," the " Dundee Advertiser " came into existence, the first number appearing on i6th January, 1801. It then bore the title of "The Dundee Advertiser and Angusshire Intelligencer." So far as this district of Angus was concerned, it contained at that time little local news, but as, from its commencement, it advocated Liberal principles, it was welcomed by a considerable section of the community. The "Montrose Review" followed in 181 1, and the "Dundee Courier and Argus" in 18 16. For many years these papers, but especially the "Review," were welcome visitants to Arbroath house- holds. The "Review" was brought from Montrose by the letter- carrier Thomas Alexander, or Tammie Elshender as he was familiarly called. His bag was but a slender one on the other days of the week, but on Fridays it assumed portly dimensions, and at the end of every street could be seen little groups, eagerly on the outlook for the approach of Tammie. If perchance a breakdown took place, preventing the publication of the paper in time for Tammie's departure from Montrose, it was no uncommon thing for some eager Arbroath subscriber, when he found Tammie arriving without his usual Friday's budget, to take liis staff in hand and set out for Montrose, a distance of thirteen miles, in order to get his newspaper, or rather the copy of which he was the joint proprietor along with, perhaps, half-a-dozen others. The price being sevenpence, it was not every family that could enjoy the luxury of a paper all to itself, and while the first reader had his paper on the day 20 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH of publication, it was no unusual thing for the last reader to get it after it was about a week old, but the share of the cost was regulated by the period of the week assigned to each reader, the earlier paying the larger share of the subscription. From the death of the " Arbroath Magazine," in 1800, till the end of 1835 — except in the form of locally printed broadsides, chiefly employed for commercial, but occasionally for political and municipal announce- ments, and to which we will have occasion to refer further on — Arbroathians had to rest contented, as we have said, with getting their news through the press of the neighbouring towns. In 1835 the first Arbroath newspaper, properly so called, appeared, and from that day to this the town has not been without a newspaper of its own. 1835. Brbroatb Bv0U0, Its publisher was John Bremnar, bookseller and printer, the editor being John Sim Sands, an Arbroath lawyer. Bremnar's plant being insufficient to permit of his doing the printing, Peter Brown, an Edinburgh printer, was employed. The " Argus " was published monthly. It was a four-page 4to paper, and the selling price was threepence. The articles were of a light, jaunty character, non- sense more than sense predominating, and it frequently indulged in scurrilous attacks on prominent citizens. This, in a large measure, was the cause of a disagreement between the publisher and the editor, and, after a partnership of less than a year, the co-parlnery came to an end. Sim Sands, however, continued to carry it on on his own account, the printing still being done in Edinburgh. As a commercial speculation, it was fairly successful, its circulation rising to about '(\\<:. hundred coi)ies — a large number for a local paper in PERIODICAL LITERATURE 21 those days in a town the size of Arbroath. It was alleged that not a few became subscribers because they enjoyed the piquancy of the articles when their neighbours' faults or failings, real or supposed, were the subjects, while others considered it to be their interest to support the paper in order to save themselves from the lash. The "Argus" had an existence of fully more than a year, when it became a weekly under a new name. 18 36. Brbroatb Journal. The success of the " Argus " proved beyond doubt that there was ample room for a newspaper in Arbroath ; so, towards the end of 1836, the monthly became a weekly under the title of the " Arbroath Journal " — a 4 pp. demy paper, price 4id. The " Journal " continued with varying fortunes till 1842. When the "Argus" became the "Journal," the name of the firm who printed and published the paper changed also. The " Argus," as we have said, although published in Arbroath, was printed in Edinburgh, but the new firm of Anderson, Sands, & Co., — the senior partner being Mrs Ann Orkney or Anderson, --having procured sufficient plant, the " Journal " was printed in Arbroath, the premises being in Horner's Wynd, now known as Commerce Street. Its first editor, John Sim Sands, was a clever man, but, as in the " Argus," so in the " Journal," many of his articles were of a most caustic and bitterly personal description — a style of writing which, as might be expected, gained for him more foes than friends. Not only were individuals assailed, but public institutions came under his lash, and the officials of these institutions were consequently driven to act on the defensive. Articles and advertisements in contemporary journals bear 22 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH ample evidence of this, and, in an action for libel, raised by a legal firm in town, tlie proprietors of the "Journal" were mulcted in damasres. Notwithstanding the acknowledged ability of the editor, and the ample field for a good paper in Arbroath, the "Journal" did not thrive, and at one time the weekly issue fell below loo, and, if our information be correct, more than once there was a hiatus in its career. In 1841, it passed into other hands, and towards the end of that year a notice appeared in various issues intimating that " Mr John Sim Sands has ceased to have any connection in any way with the ' Arbroath Journal.' " But although the " Journal " has long since passed away, the name of John Sim Sands is still remembered in Arbroath. His metrical account of Deacon Elshender's exploits (the longest piece in his " Poems on various subjects. Satirical and Humorous," a book now scarce, but prized by Arbroathians), in which he gives a humorous and graphic account of the wonderful imaginary adventures of the Arbroath Munchausen, will serve to keep his memory green for many generations. Shortly after Mr Sands' connection with the " Journal " ceased, he left Arbroath. He died in Perth on the 31st of August, 1866. Mr Sands' interest in the "Journal" was, in 1841, acquired by J. Daniel, an Aberdonian, but his connection with it was of very short duration. During Daniel's proprietorship of the "Journal," Mr Ben. M. Kennedy became its editor. No sooner had Mr Kennedy entered on its management than a marked change for the better took place in its tone, a feature which remained visible during the latter months of its existence. The last number of the " Journal" appeared on the 19th March, 1842, the plant and good-will of the concern having become the property of Mr Kennedy. Of its successor, the " Guide," of which Mr Kennedy became proprietor and editor, we shall speak further on. PERIODICAL LITERATURE 23 1837. /iRemoranDa of tbc Hbbeg. " Short Historical Memoranda of the Abbey of Aberbrothock, compiled from History by James Alexander, keeper of the Abbey Buildings, Arbroath, printed by John Bremnar." A 10 pp. tract, though not a periodical in the true sense of the term, was published annually for five or six years, " Deacon Elshender," the keeper, having had it reprinted from time to time (with a slight variation in each) for the purpose of selling it to the visitors to the Abbey. The composi- tion was not particularly elegant, and here and there were paragraphs amusingly obscure. Here is an extract from the 1837 issue: — "A blank seems here to interfere with the history of this Abbey : except from traditionary tales, but these are not the object of this pamphlet ; its intention being rather to trace what can positively be stated from historical facts, having been set on fire by an infuriated mob at the Reformation, and afterwards acted upon as a common quarry, — thereby destroying the most beautiful remnants of ancient architecture. But happier times have now dawned upon this venerable pile, and the remains of consecrated antiquity shed a hallo on the religious mind, venerated alike, as if in unison with grey haired virtue." Well done. Deacon ! You must have felt relieved after this outburst of rhapsodical eloquence ! Some of the issues were embellished with a fairly-good representation of the Abbey. The block was cut in wood with a penknife by John Bremnar. 183 8. ^be Brbroatb /iRisccllany. The " Miscellany," a 4 pp. demy, was ushered into existence in March, 1838, but it could scarcely be called a newspaper. It had some 24 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH interesting papers, chiefly written by its editor, on local traditions, and articles descriptive of local scenes. It was edited, printed, and published by John Bremnar, and appeared monthly. It had an existence of about eighteen months. The year 1838 saw the advent of another paper of much greater importance than the "Miscellany," and one which, for a time, bade fair to be a most formidable rival to the "Journal." arbroatb IF^eralD. On the 30th Nov., 1838, the first number of the " Arbroath Herald " appeared. It was an eight-page paper, 17 in. by 12 in., price 4^d. It was well printed, and excellently conducted, and, in the latter respect, it formed a great contrast to the "Journal." In politics, it was Liberal, as indeed have been all the newspapers ever published in Arbroath. But the chief ground on which, in its opening number, the " Herald " claimed public support was " the utter absence of all personal abuse, and the strict attention to truth, purity of language, and selection of subjects." From the first to the last number it adhered to this, and it deserved much better support than it appears to have got. The paper continued only thirteen months, and, in their vale- dictory address, its proprietors stated that, while it was not commenced with very sanguine expectations of making money, they frankly con- fessed that it not only did not pay its way, but that financially it was a losing concern. It was conducted by Robert W. Anderson, a young Arbroath lawyer, and James Dufif. The former acted as editor, and the latter as printer and publisher. Mr Anderson removed many years ago from Arbroath to Forfar, where, in addition to his legal business, he held a number of important public appointments. He died in Forfar on 27th July, 1888. He was PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 25 the first to obtain leave to give verbatim reports of the Town Council proceedings. James Duff, the printer and publisher, was essentially a newspaper man. He was born in 1797, and died in 1882. In 181 1 he was apprenticed to the proprietors of the " Dundee Advertiser," Mr Rintoul being then editor. The " Advertiser " at that time was a weekly, with a circulation of 600, the price being 6d. The work was then done, by two journeymen and three apprentices, in an old building in New Inn Entry, a mighty contrast to the magnificent premises, splendid appliances, and numerous staff of that journal to-day. When quite a lad, Duff was entrusted with the most responsible work in the office, and during his service there, he came into contact with many men of note, George Kinloch, and Robert Nicoll, the poet, being among the number. Besides doing his duty at the "case," he did good work with his pen. After twenty-seven years continuous service there, he came, as we have said, to Arbroath, and established the "Herald," of which, although he was not the recognised editor, the literary part of the work largely devolved on him, and it was a great disappointment to him when he felt called upon to abandon his Arbroath venture. On the relinquishment of the "Herald," he returned to Dundee, where he established himself as a general printer, in which business he continued to thrive till his retiral in i86g. On the completion of the seventieth anniversary of his connection with the printing trade, he was presented by the master-printers of Dundee, with an illuminated address. Even after his retirement from business he continued his connection with periodical litera- ture, contributing interesting articles on a variety of subjects to the local press. 26 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH 1841. Z\iZ 2lrbroatb Bvgue IRcMvivus. The " Arbroath Argus Redivivus," a four pp. 4to demy monthly paper, price i^d, appeared in December, 1841. It was owned and edited by John Bremnar. From a letter in the first number, in which the writer expresses his regret at the change of tone in the conduct of the •' Journal," which had then just passed into other hands, and, from the drift of leading and other articles in the earlier numbers, it was at once made clear that the citizens, both in their private and public capacity, might expect to "get it hot" if the editor differed from them. Certainly, if for nothing else, the revivified " Argus " was distinguished more for plainness than politeness of speech. Its life, however, was a short one. 18 42. ^bc Brbroatb (5ui?c, The lineal descendant of the first " Argus " and of the " Arbroath Journal," made its bow to the public on 26th March, 1842. It has changed its form more than once, being at first a 4 pp. 24 by 18 in. paper, afterwards 16 pp., 15 by io| in., and again it was restored to its original size, which has since been increased in breadth. The price has also been on a sliding scale, beginning at 4id, then 3|d, 2^d, i|d, and id, at which price it now sells. The first proprietor and editor, as we have already said, was Ben. M. Kennedy, and under his vigorous management the number of its subscribers steadily increased, and its influence in the com- munity soon began to manifest itself The " Ten Years' Conflict " PERIODICAL LITERATURE 27 was raging at the time, and the editor espoused the cause of Moderatism, bitterly attacking the Non-Intrusion Party in the Church, and when the ecclesiastical disputes eventuated in the Disruption, the " Guide " for a time became a bitter opponent of the Free Church. Nothwithstanding that the " Guide," at its commencement, received substantial aid from Lord Panmure and from various gentlemen in the locality, Mr Kennedy found it up-hill work to get it established on a firm basis, and he was once on the point of abandoning it. Other counsels prevailed, and by " putting a stout heart to a stey brae," he was able ultimately to see the " Guide " a valuable property. A native of Caithness, in early life Mr Kennedy spent some years in Mauritius and in France. On his return home, he became editor of the "John o' Groat Journal," and he held that appointment when he was offered and accepted the editorship of the " Arbroath Journal." In 1846, he assumed J. S. Ramsay as partner and joint editor of the " Guide," but the union was not a happy one, and it came to an end in 1853. In that year, Thomas Buncle, who had acted as manager for a number of years, partnered Kennedy, and, on the death of the latter, in 1861, Mr Buncle became sole proprietor, and, to his able and judicious management, the long - continued success of the paper is mainly due. Besides his success as a newspaper proprietor, Mr Buncle has gained more than local distinction as a printer and publisher of beautiful editions of various works, chiefly of a local character. In 1856, Mr D. M. Luckie, a Montrosean, and then editor of the "John o' Groat Journal," became editor — a position which he 28 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH held till 1862, when he left for New Zealand. There he took a good position as a journalist. His success as such, led to his appointment as Government Insurance Commissioner — an office which he still holds. He was succeeded as editor of the " Guide," by Mr George Hay, the present holder of that office. Mr Hay, before coming to Arbroath, occupied, for more than two years, the post of Editor of the " Dundee Courier and Argus." Prior to that he was Editor of the "John o' Groat Journal," so that each of the " Guide's " Editors have acted in a similar capacity on the staff of that journal. Besides faithfully fulfilling his duties as Editor of the " Guide," Mr Hay has done good service to the community in producing such an excellent work as his " History of Arbroath " has proved itself to be. The " Guide," as a faithful chronicler of local events, has been a model paper. In its columns, the various local histories — Miller's " Arbroath and its Abbey," Blair's " Chronicles of Aberbrothock," Hay's " History of Arbroath," M'Bain's "■ Arbroath Past and Present," and Carrie's "Ancient things in Angus" — first appeared in serial form. Its " Poets' Corner," has for many years been a nursery for local verse - writers, not a few of whom have taken a respectable place among the minor poets of Scotland. The meteorological observations of Dr Alexander Brown, the " Arbroath Astronomer," have regularly appeared in its columns. 1846. Z\iC ipcinimvovtb. "The Pennyworth; or, Forfarshire Literary Journal and Monthly Advertiser," a monthly periodical, 16 pp. royal 8vo, edited, printed, and published by Ben M, Kennedy, was ushered into existence PERIODICAL LITERATURE 29 on 28th July, 1846, and was issued on the last Tuesday of each month. In the preliminary announcement of this journal it was stated that it would contain one or more original articles, selec- tions from new publications, notices of the Arts, Sciences, and Literature, and a chronicle of the remarkable events of the month. In form and appearance it was like Chambers's Journal. It received a cordial reception from, and was very favourably reviewed by, many of the leading newspapers and magazines. It was of a non-political character, and bade fair to prove an honest though not a formidable rival to "Chambers" and "Hogg." The original articles showed considerable power, and the extracts were judiciously selected, so that it deserved greater success than it obtained. After a struggling existence of twelve months, its career was closed. In taking farewell of his readers, the editor complains, we think, however, without just cause, that the taste of the times was against the reception of good, wholesome literature. " The fate of the ' Pennyworth,' " he says, " is another proof added to the many now on record, of publications of the kind being ill-adapted for provincial towns. We regret not our having made the essay, however. Our desire was to place at the disposal of the public a publication in which we endea- voured to combine instruction with amusement, and that, too, at a price which put the miscellany within the reach of all. We have now discovered that, however successful in fixing our price so as to suit the pockets of the people, we have miscalculated as respects the matter best adapted to the minds of the million. If not savoury, ours has been at least a wholesome literary dish. Such, however, is the morbid taste which prevails, such the high- seasoned food which must be provided, such the fearful hashie of horrors and mysteries required m order to interest the generality 30 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH of readers, many of them more the creatures of impulse than reflection, in fact, such the exciting description of writing wanted by the public — desirous of being astounded rather than instructed, thrilled rather than amused — that we are forced to abandon our little publication to its fate, as one not adapted for the times." " The Privateer," a poem of considerable merit by Thomas Watson, in which Captain Fall's attack on Arbroath is humorously told, first appeared in " The Pennyworth," as also did the same writer's " Horseman of Vetties Giel." 18 5 4, Q^be Bvbroatb Journal aiiD General BDvcrtiscr, Arbroath : Printed by J. Bremnar & Son. A 4 pp. folio double demy, published weekly, price id. Only the first page, however, was printed in Arbroath, the other three pages being printed in London, and made to do duty throughout the kingdom as a "local paper " of any town or village where " an enterprising printer " thought he could "turn an honest penny" by palming it off as an entirely home-spun article. The local page contained usually four columns of advertisements and two of local paragraphs. It ran for three years. 18 55. Satur^a\2 JEvcninci ©ui^c. This — a later, and when first started, a cheaper edition of the " Arbroath Guide," price one penny — was commenced in November, 1855, and still continues to appear every Saturday. When it was first published, the price of the " Guide " being then 4i-d., this PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 31 evening edition came to be known as the " Penny Guide," by which name it is often yet called. What we have said of the " Guide " may be held as repeated here. 1856. arbroatb an& 3forfar IRews aiiD Bngus BDvcrtiscr, Printed and published every Wednesday morning, by John Mitchell, 8 pp. 16 by 2\\ in., price 4|d. The publishing office was in Hill Street, on the site now occupied by the Post Office. Its editor and publisher, John Mitchell, was a man of capital parts and large newspaper experience, having for many years previously edited and successfully conducted the " Montrose Review." He was only one of the proprietors of the " News," the major part of the funds being supplied by several Arbroath gentlemen, who believed there was ample field in Arbroath for another well-conducted newspaper, and that the speculation would be a paying one. The first number appeared on 2nd April, 1856, and as it was excellently got up and admirably edited, it at once bade fair to be a success ; but its very success was the death of it. The proprietors expected that, at the end of the first year, it should have yielded a handsome dividend, forgetting to take into account the extra expenditure incidental to a new undertaking ; and when they found that, after payment of working expenses, there was nothing to divide, they insisted on a withdrawal of their shares. As the printer could not replace the sums thus abstracted from the business, the result was a collapse. It thus lived little over a year. Besides the usual local and general news and well-written leaders, a series of articles of a historic nature, entitled, " Arbroath 32 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH in former Days," appeared in its columns. The name of the writer of the articles was not given, but they were generally understood to be from the pen of Mr David Miller, the author of " Arbroath and its Abbey." 18 58. Bbevbrotboch Club. " Aberbrothock Club, or the sayings of Timothy Tripoly, Saunders Sago, and Eppy Prunello, as reported by Franco Bergohausen, Esq." Printed by W. Haig, Hill Street, Arbroath. 4 pp. 8vo demy. It was ill-printed, ill-spelt, and altogether a most wretched production. In the first number, after a brief introduction, giving a description of the personal appearance, and an estimate of the mental qualities of the various members of " the Club," the purposes of the publication are thus set forth : — " They have met in Eppy's dwelling for at least three decades for the purpose of deliberating in a homely way on affairs public, political, and social, special and general, foreign and national ;" and it goes on to say that it has been resolved "that in future we shall meet in some public place, say in the White Hart Hotel, every Fursday night weather permittin' and that for the benefet o' the nation in general an' the men an' women o' this toon in particklar, a reporter be employed to wrate doon correctly a' 'at we say." It will thus be seen that the chief object in view was to comment on or gossip about the passing events of the day. The style was as indicated by the tillr, colloquial. The conversations were carried on chiefly in the Scottish dialect, but the writer or writers were quite incapable of writing correctly a single sentence ot PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 33 Scotch. As to the matter, it was the most miserable drivel that ever appeared in print. As might be expected, only a few numbers saw the light. From this period down till 18S5 — excepting denominational publications, year books, and IMS. magazines, of which some account will be given later on — no new literary venture was attempted. 1885. Z^z arbroatb f^cralD. The "Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs." Printed and published by Brodie & Salmond, Brothock Bridge, Arbroath. Except for very short periods, at considerable intervals, Arbroath up till 1885 had only one newspaper running at a time. Notwithstanding that in other respects Arbroath has always been a go-a-head place, it has been far behind other towns, of even smaller size, in the matter of newspapers. We do not know if there be a single town in Scotland, with a population equal to that of Arbroath, with only one newspaper. Mr John Brodie, bookseller and printer here, believing that there was ample room for two papers, on the 5th February, 1885, issued the first number of the (revived) " Arbroath Herald." It was a modest little 4 pp. paper (12^ by 9I in.), and was at first chiefly meant as an advertising sheet. But from the beginning one of the pages was devoted to local news, including one or two short leaders, and it was issued gratis. It was prophesied that this venture would not last many months (the wish probably being father to the prophecy), but it was not many weeks in existence till it began to make itself felt as a power 34 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH in the community. Its leading articles, which were almost entirely confined to local questions, were powerfully written, and were the means of calling attention to matters seriously affecting the well' being of the inhabitants. As might be expected of an organ so outspoken, its advent was hailed by many as a boon ; whilst by others, on whose toes it trod, it was denounced with much bitterness. Thus "the little Herald," or the " Heraldic " as it was occasionally, either derisively or affectionately called, soon became an acknowledged power in Arbroath. Notwithstanding the prognostications of an early death, it continued to grow in size and power. It grew from a four to a six page paper, and increased not only in size but in circulation, till on the 8th September, 1887, it came out as a full-fledged 8 pp. newspaper (22I by 16-^ in.), no longer gratis, but price one penny. At this time Mr J. B. Salmond (who before this had been a frequent contributor) partnered Mr Brodie, under the firm of Brodie & Salmond. Larger premises were secured, and new machinery and plant introduced, and with Mr Salmond as editor, and Mr Brodie as manager and printer, the " Herald " made a bid for a larger share of public patronage. Since then the paper has steadily grown in influence and power. There has all along been an open, manly, and generous tone in its editorial columns, and whether exposing abuses or speaking encouragingly on questions affecting the well-being of the community, it has never descended to personalities or unfairness of argument on the one hand, or to flattering or fawning on the other. Taking it all in all, it has held the balance, when writmg on public questions or i)ublic men, with justice and equity. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 35 In politics the " Herald " supports, with marked aVjility, the party of radical reform and advancement in the local as well as in the Imperial Government. In other respects it is also an excellent paper. Besides giving full and correct reports of public meetings, and of local occurrences, it invariably contains a considerable number of original papers by local writers on literary subjects. Several series of most interesting papers have appeared in its columns, and its influence for good in this respect has been specially apparent. lJ)car BooF^s, A CONSIDERABLE number of Year Books or local Almanacs have been published in Arbroath from time to time by local booksellers. As a rule they consisted of a London-printed, illustrated sheet, which constituted the Almanac proper, supplemented by several pages of information concerning local Boards, societies, mortifications, and other institutions of public importance. These, along with trade advertisements, formed the regular penny Almanac. They usually appeared during the New Year holidays, and were thus convenient advertising mediums for the festive season. Most of them seemed to gain a fair circulation, but several never reached a second issue, w'hile others presented themselves only intermittently. With the exception of those we shall presently mention, however, none of them were of any permanent importance, and need not be further referred to here. S6 BIBLTOGRArHY OF ARBROATH 1871. .1i3rciniiar"6 Blniaiinc niiC> Xocal "(Register. " Bremnar's Illustrated Arbroath Almanack and Local Register," price one penny, was first Issued on New Year's Day, 187 1, and has since continued to be published annually. Besides containing the usual information to be found in almanacs, a useful register of all public boards, societies, charities, educational institutions and the like is given. It is largely taken advantage of as an advertising medium. John Bremnar, the publisher, to whose various contributions to local periodical literature we have already referred, is still alive, a hale and hearty octogenarian. Born in Brechin on 14th December, 1803, he was brought to Arbroath in infancy, so that he has been a residenter here for the long period of eighty-five years. He has been in the bookselling and printing business on his own account for the long period of sixty-seven years. Although still in business, he has done little or nothing in a literary way for the last twenty years or so, but i)rior to that he made considerable contributions to local literature. In 1842, the first edition of his "Abbey of Aberbrothock, its ruins and historical associations," was published, a second edition appearing ten years later. In 1853 he wrote and published "The Cliffs and Caves near Arbroath," being descriptive of a ramble from Arbroath to the romantic fishing village of Auchmithie (the Musselcrag of " The Antiquary ") in the course of which he descants on the botany, geology, and marine fiora of the district. Of a like nature are his " Pilgrimage to St Vigeans," his " Pilgrimage to Arbirlot," his " Loiterings by the Sea Shore," and other works. His " Inchcape Rock," a local legend in metre, and PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 37 Other rhymes which he has written, all treat more or less of scenes in the neighbourhood of Arbroath. 1880. lbooD'6 forfarsbirc Blmanac " Hood's Forfarshire Almanac and Official Directory " for the burghs of Dundee, Arbroath, Montrose, Brechin and Kirriemuir. Arbroath : Jas. F. Hood, price sixpence, 100 pp. This was an exceedingly useful and admirably got up year book. It contained full and carefully-compiled lists of all the public boards, societies, and institutions in the different towns in the county of Forfar. Special attention was given to all educational and philanthropic agencies throughout the district. It also contained a judiciously -compiled calendar of events in local history, which elevated the work into one of more than passing interest, and made it worthy of a place on the shelves of local book collectors. Its information was full and varied, and, when after two years its publication w-as discontinued, it was much missed by business men, not only in Arbroath, but in the neighbouring towns as well. 188 9. tlbc Brbroatb linear JSook. "The Arbroath Year Book and Fairport Almanac," with general directory for Arbroath, Carnoustie, Friockheim, and surrounding districts. Arbroath : printed at the Arbroath Herald Office, by Brodie & Salmond, publishers. This is an admirably - planned and well-executed undertaking, and has met with a hearty welcome in business circles. 38 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH Besides a calendar, which gives lists of interesting events in local history, lists of boards and societies with their office-bearers, lists of local clergymen and churches, along with full information concerning schools, scholarships, charities, literary, sporting, and other clubs, it also contains a new feature in such annuals, so far as Arbroath is concerned, namely, a directory giving the names and addresses of the householders in the burgh. It has been well patronised as an advertising medium. An artistically designed title page, consisting of three local scenes from the pencil of Mr James Greig, an Arbroath artist, adds beauty to an otherwise well got up directory. >§^9^^='e- DENOMINATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. ^e-i^^^^ R^M^^J^^^^fr*^^^^ HE various churches in Scotland have, for many years, had their representative magazines, giving an account of the operations, missionary and other, carried on by the respective denomi- nations. Prior to the introduction of these, however, the keen battle fought by the opposing parties in the Church of Scotland during the " Ten Years' Conflict " called for the strongest and sharpest of weapons. These were produced in ample profusion, in the shape of pamphlets, newspapers, and other periodicals. Here the need for a paper of a polemical nature was strongly felt, and "The Presbyterian" came into existence as the organ of the Non-Intrusion party in this locality, and it was conducted with immense vigour. 1843. Q:bc iprcsbgtcrian. " Arbroath : Published on the first Saturday of every month, by James Adam, Bookseller, to whose care all communications to the Editor are to be sent." At its commencement the "Presbyterian" was an 8 pp. quarto-demy paper, price i^d. 89 40 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH The first number was published on yth January, 1843, and it continued this size till 5th January, 1845 — 25 months. From February till December, 1845, ^vhen it ceased to exist, it was changed to 16 pp. 8vo demy. The Evangelical party in the Church was represented in this quarter by a set of able men, who soon earned for themselves more than local fame — Principal M'Cosh, of Princeton ; Principal Lumsden, of Aberdeen ; Dr Wm. Wilson, of Edinburgh ; and Dr Nixon, of Montrose, being then members of this and the neighbouring presbyteries. It was an open secret that Lumsden, then of Barry, and Wilson of Carmyllie, were joint editors of the "Presbyterian." The paper was printed at the "Dundee Warder" office, the conductors of which paper were also partisans of the Non-Intrusionists. While the " Presbyterian " contained articles on Church history, and gave information as to the progress of the movement throughout Scotland, it contained full details of local ecclesiastical events, and from its columns it would not be difficult to construct a history of the rise of the various Free Church congregations within the bounds of the Presbytery of Arbroath. The younger members of the Established and Free Churches, should the " Presbyterian " fall into their hands, would be astonished to witness the bitterness with whicli the controversy was waged on both sides in those stirring days. The Non-Intrusion party here, as in many other quarters throughout Scotland, met with very serious opposition from site- refusing landlords. In this locality they were bitterly opposed by Lord Panmure, who was sole heritor of se\-eral parishes in the district, and an extensive proprietor in others. His hostility to PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 41 the " Evangelicals " was undisguised and relentless. The " Presby- terian " throughout its pages bears ample testimony to this. In an article of considerable length, a writer, presumably one of the editors, delivers himself of a most scathing denunciation of the character and conduct of this nobleman ; which, bold and defiant, and regardless of public opinion as he usually was, made him not only tremble, but was the means of leading him to moderate the rigour of his persecution of the Free Church party within his domains. The time of the Disruption called forth several publications akin to the " Presbyterian." These did their work for a few months and ceased, but this journal continued a vigorous life for three years — years which marked an important epoch in the history of the Church ; and when that transition period had passed away, its purpose having been served, it closed its career at a time when it was still in full health and vigour. Uocal Supplements. During the past few years it has become customary for the different congregations, while distributing these denominational publications, to have local covers or supplements, in which is given the congregational news of the month. In some cases, this is done through the medium of a separate sheet, entirely devoted to articles and information having reference to the operations of the various agencies in connection with the congregation. Some of these, besides being useful to the congregation immediately concerned, are of considerable interest to outsiders. We shall refer to them in the order of their appearance. D 42 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH 188 2. Zhc Xa^\2loa^ $xcc Cburcb Supplement. " The Ladyloan Free Church Supplement " was commenced in April, 1882, and has been admirably conducted. A special feature in this magazine has been a " Sketch of the Free Ladyloan Congregation," by the Rev. J. Moffat Scott, which appeared in its columns in monthly instalments, and has since been carefully revised, and republished in book form. Besides being interesting to the congregation, the volume forms an acceptable addition to our local history. We may mention in passing that Mr Moffat Scott is the author of another volume of local, as well as of general, historical interest, " The Martyrs of Angus and Mearns." 18 82. IF^noE jfrec Cbureb SiuHHement. " Knox Free Church Supplement," commenced in August, 1882, and continued till April, 18S6, when it was dropped for financial reasons. Besides the record of congregational incidents, this magazine contained poetical selections, and an occasional original hymn, from the pen of the pastor, the Rev. J. P. Lilley. 188 3. St /llbare's JGanner of jFaitb. " St Mary's Banner of Faith," a monthly magazine for St Mary's [Episcopal Church], Arbroath," was started in January, 1883, and still continues to be published. Here too, only the cover is local. It contains the usual congregational intelligence, with occasional notices of special meetings of the denomination elsewhere in Scotland. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 43 18 84. Z\iz arbroatb iparisb /IRaga3nie. "The Arbroath Parish Magazine." This is an insert under the cover of " Life and Work," an organ of the Established Church of Scotland. The local portion, which dates from October, 1884, gives very full details of the congregational transactions. A speciality in this magazine, with which we were pleased to meet, and only regret that its recurrence is so infrequent, is an occasional page giving extracts from the records of the Kirk Session of Arbroath Parish. These extracts give the present members a vivid picture of " Life among their ain folk," in the days of yore. We cannot resist the temptation of reproducing one or two of these. The Kirk-Session was a much more important body in days gone by than it is now. It fulfilled many functions, and among others it did duty as a sort of Police Court. Take this parallel case to the modern "drunk and disorderly": — " feb. 16, 1670, John Ramsay, sailer, and John Ramsay in Seaton, and Pat. Lesly, are appointed to be cited to the next dyet, for drunkenness upon ye Lord's day, in tyme of divine service." Many cases of this kind are scattered over these records. We poor moderns have no tribunal before which to cite scolding wives, and can only now "grin and bear it." Henpecked husbands were better protected then, as witness: — "June 15, 1670. Margt. Mawder being cited for scolding, confessed her guilt, and was rebuked before ye Session." Margaret got off easy ; not so another termagant who appeared before the same body in the following month : — "July 27. Margaret FuUertone being convicted of scolding, 44 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH was rebuked before the Session, and appointed to pay thrittie shil. Scots in penaltie." It is to be hoped that Margaret kept " a calm sough " thereafter. Here is an instruction to the elders. If their successors in office to-day attempted to obey the resolution, which we presume is still unrescinded, we fear they would have a stiff job of it — " It is recommended to ye elders to take notice of extravagant persons as go to the Heughs [cliffs], or go forth in boats upon the Sabbath day." The Kirk was the advertising medium, and although the ' members of Session were in many respects strict Sabbatarians, in those days they saw no impropriety in holding a sale of the grass in the Abbey burying ground on the Sabbath. "June 2, 1670. The Churchyard grass the said day was Rouped to 14 lb. Scots." There was no fire insurance agent then to worry the life out of the parishioners with his canvass for business, as is now the case, but the Session occasionally, without premium, took the place of an insurance company, and indemnified the sufferer for the calamity of a conflagration. "September 28, 1670. The Session appoint Isobel Anderson to have on dayes collectione for her supplie — her house being latelie burnt with fyre." The area of the Church was a clear space, no fixed seats being therein, pews being a modern invention. People either stood or knelt during the service, or they brought stools with them whereon to sit. There were a few desks or seats in some of the Churches prior to the Reformation, but it was long thereafter till the Churches were filled with pews. At first it was only people of rank who were allowed to erect these. Here is a record of the erection of two of the pews in the Parish Church in Arbroath, which still remain. It is dated 27th April, 1670. " Alexr. Peirson, merchant PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 45 in Arbroathe, produced a warrand, under the hand of John Ochter- lony of Wester Seaton, and his son, James Ochterlony of date ye day of impowring him to raise two peews in ye room Allotted for ym in the Church of Arbroth, ye first of which is to be for ye use of ye Lairds of Seaton and their heirs ; ye most remote from ye pulpit, for ye said Alexr. Pierson and his Heirs the which warrand being maturely considered by the members of Session, all of them did consent thereto and did empower the said Alexr. to raise ye peews for ye use aforesaid." We make no apology for introducing these extracts, for they not only show how interesting those magazines may be made, but we are sure the extracts themselves will be most acceptable to our readers. 188 5. Iprinccs Street TH. ip. Congreciational IRecorD. *' Congregational Record, Princes Street United Presbyterian Church, Arbroath." This Magazine (4pp.) differs in several respects from the others which we have noticed above. It is a quarterly (all the others being monthlies) and is quite distinct from the denomi- national magazines of the U. P. Church. It is entirely local, and contains a very full and faithful record of the many departments of Christian work carried on by this admirably-organized congrega- tion. It also gives interesting obituary notices of prominent members. 188 7. Ba^t ifree Cburcb /l^ontbh?. "East Free Church Monthly," commenced May, 1887, and continued till April, 1889. Following in the wake of Free Ladyloan, a history of the congregation was conunenced, 46 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH but after running three chapters, bringing down the story to 1863, the historian comes to a sudden halt. He gives his reasons for doing so in the following sentences : — " Thus far, nothing of any great moment, in the way of a difficulty, has occurred in writing this brief history of our church. I now find, however, that difficulties of no mean order stare me in the face. After due consideration of all the facts of the case, I consider it wisest not to continue these papers on exactly the same lines as the former ones. Everyone must admit that old sores, whether in society or the Church, are best kept out of sight. The re-opening of them never fails to do harm. The East Church has passed through many troubles — I would almost be inclined to say revolutions. In this matter the East Church has been particularly unfortunate. I therefore think silence the best policy under the circumstances. To enter at all into anything like a history of the period immediately following that narrated in my last paper would, I am sure, only serve to recall facts and memories that are best hidden out of sight and forgotten." The East Free Church has had an interesting history and one well worth telling, and its discontinuance is to be regretted. 188 8. 1[)i(lF3 Street ^ree Cburcb /n^oiitbl^. "High Street Free Churcli Monthly" was started in February 1888. While giving the usual congregational news, it contains a series of interesting articles on the various departments of congregational work, and in this resj^jcct it has kept more closely to the main end for which such pul)lications are intended, than most of the other hxal, denominational magazines have done. MANUSCRIPT MAGAZINES. ei^^^iiO, S a further indication of the literary life of the burgh, the manuscript magazines — of which, during the last thirty odd years, there have been a few — are worthy of notice. The literary or mutual improvement societies, of which the town for many years has had many, have been the means of giving a healthy stimulus to the intellectual life of "young Arbroath." The MS. Magazines have, as a rule, been the outcome of one or other of those societies. It may be that the first efforts of the young journalists were feeble, but, being healthy, they were full of promise. Time has proved, in the case of not a few of these Arbroathians, that the early cultivation of their literary tastes developed into a fair amount of success in the line of authorship. It will not be necessary to notice all the MS. Journals which have from time to time appeared in Arbroath, and after a brief existence, expired. We shall only specially refer to three — one the production of young men who had entered on the business of their life, another of boys yet at school, and a third, what might be called a home or domestic journal, each of these being re- presentative of its class. They will serve to show the nature of 47 48 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH these juvenile literary efforts, and the kind of subjects which the youthful aspirants to literary fame attempted to tackle. Since the birth of this century, Arbroath has had, springing up now and then, such literary and mutual improvement societies as those to which we have just referred. Alexander Balfour, the poet and novelist, whose contributions (i 799-1 800) to the Arbroath Magazine we have already mentioned, was, as we have shewn, the moving spirit in one of these, of which he was also the originator, but, although his pen was seldom idle, we find nothing of the nature of a MS. Magazine in connection with this society. afairpovt /iftutunl improvement BsBOctation /ifcaga^inc. Somewhere, early in the fifties, a society was formed, the membership of which was composed of pupil teachers. It was named the Fairport Mutual Improvement Association, and its main aim, as set forth in the rules, was to make its members "model men." In 1856, with the view of further improvnig their style of composition, the " model men " started a magazine. It was conducted entirely in manuscript, the members contributing articles which were filed between stiff vellum boards. These were adorned on the front with the title, and a sketch of a quill pen, underneath which were written Byron's lines : — " All iiail to thcc my grey goose quill ! Slave of my thoughts, obedient to my will, Torn from tli}' jiarent wing to make a Pkn, 'I'bo IMiciiTV instrument of T.i-I'ti.f, Men," The articles were written only on oiu' side of the paper, the other side being reserved for the criticisms of the readers and the replies thereto by the authors. At the beginning were a list of the PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 49 ' contributors, and a table of contents, which was, of course, gradually added to as the magazine grew. The work reached the mature age of eight numbers, and was only abandoned in consequence of the chief contributors, William Jolly, Alexander Coutts, and James Donald, who had finished their apprenticeships as pupil teachers, having to proceed to Edinburgh to complete their professional studies. The subjects treated were certainly varied enough in character. They consisted of essays, criticisms of books, descriptions of scenery, original stories, biographical sketches, and, of course, poetry from the budding poets among the " model men." The originators of the venture, Messrs Jolly and Coutts, were the most prolific contributors. As an indication of the contents, we give the titles of a few of the papers : — By Mr Donald, essays, " The Improvement of the Memory," the " Acquisition of Knowledge ;" criticism, " Alison's Europe ;" description, " Ross-shire," and some tales. By Mr Jolly, essay, " Elements of Correct Style ;" criticisms, " My Schools and Schoolmasters," " Ossian," " Sterne ;" description, " Ascent of Benaven," and two or three stories. By Mr Coutts, essay, " Novels ;" criticism, " White's Land-Marks of English History." The style of the papers, as a whole, was decidedly creditable, the composition showing evident care and remarkable ease, considering that the authors were then only about eighteen years of age, while the treatment of the subjects showed much reading and intellectual power ; the stories, no small constructive and dramatic interest ; and the poetry, a ver}' fair command of rhyme, whatever may be said of the afflatus that makes the poet. The criticisms by the members of each other's pai)ers were numerous, vigorous, and amusing, with smart rtlorts and defences, and they were, withal, temperate and pointed. 5o BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH This magazine was a highly creditable effort, zealously carried out by young men who, with ''igh moral aims, earnestly endeavoured to improve themselves in the use of the pen, as, in their debates, they set themselves to acquire a fluency of speech, and a readiness to meet their opponents in argument. It certainly produced after literary fruit in at least two of the youthful aspirants. William Jolly, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., F.S.A., Scot, &c., H.M. Inspector of Schools, is well known throughout Scotland, not only as an authority in scholastic matters, but as an author of good repute, and a lecturer on educational and other sul)jects. He has written very valuable treatises on the geology of various districts in Scodand. The chapter on the geology of Oban in Professor Blackie's Altavona (in which work Mr Jolly figures as " Hilarius ") was written by him. His contributions to the magazines are numerous and important. He is the author of one of the best biographies that has appeared in recent years, "John Duncan, Scotch Weaver and Botanist." As an educationist, a scientist, an archaeologist, and an author, he has proved that his early training at the mutual improvement society in his native town has been of service to himself and advantage to others. Tlie other member of the little society, to whom reference has been made, was James N. Donald, whose editorship of Chambers' "Etymological Dictionary" and other educational works, gained for him some fame in tliat department of literature. His career, which promised to be a very creditable one, was cut short, he having met a terrible death in tlie railway accident at Morpeth in 1877. Other two societies of the same class as this, the members o PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 51 which had their MS. magazines, produced authors whose writings proved the benefit which these early efforts are calculated to confer. Thomas Jamieson, Librarian of the Advocates' Library, who edited editions of some of the older authors, amongst others that of " Barclay's Ship of Fools," which was published in three handsome volumes ; Alexander Main, whose Shake- sperian studies attracted the notice of Charles and Mary Cowden Clark, and gained him employment on their edition of Shakespeare, and who has also published " Wise, Witty, and Tender Sayings of George Eliot," and an abbreviated edition of " Boswell's Life of Johnson;" James S. Neish, author of "In the Byeways of Life," and other works ; Peter Thomson, editor of the " Edinburgh Evening News;" William Durie, H.M. Customs, Lerwick, who writes with much acceptance for different Magazines; and others. Z\iz jFairport /iRacia^inc. In 1876, two school boys (now the Rev. Wm. Marwick and Dr Henry Angus, now in New Zealand, son of the Rev. Dr Henry Angus of Arbroath) started a manuscript Journal, under the title of the " Fairport Magazine." The first No. appeared in October, and consisted of 16 pp. It contained the first chapter of a story by the editor (Wm. Marwick), entitled " The Two Young Crusoes," and the first chapter of a story " The Far West," by Henry Angus, besides short articles and poems by other juvenile contributors. The Magazine continued fortnightly for a time, and the December No. contained an announcement that the January No. would be printed and that a new story would be commenced. In 1877, a printing press was got, and the two boys named 52 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH set up as printers. The only number of the printed set now in existence is wonderfully well executed. It contains " Harry Bradford," chapter III., " Arbroath and its Abbey," and " Young Ronald of Morar." It bears some resemblance to the old- fashioned chap-books, and is quite a curiosity in its way. In January, 1878, the Magazine was restarted in MS. form with new and wonderfully well written stories. Besides the two lads named, the chief contributors were two young ladies. Miss E. H. Smith of Glasgow and Miss M. E. Angus, Arbroath. This magazine continued till nearly the close of 1878. Throughout its existence it showed considerable promise, at least on the part of its chief contributors. Z\)c /iRaiise 3oui'nal. The family MS. Magazine is one, which, from its very nature, is less known to the outside world than are those to which we have just referred, and yet it is of a class which serves to elevate and enliven the domestic circle in which it exists. One of these, bearing the title of " The Manse Journal," was the joint production of the gifted family of the late Rev. Dr Crichton of Free Inverbrothock Church. The eldest son, Andrew, who had gone to the Edinburgh University in 1852, was the projector of, and the chief contributor to, this monthly. The first number appeared in 1855. It consisted of eight quarto pages, double columns, and was written as closely as small print, in a clear, beautiful hand. It continued for somewhere about three years. The articles showed that tlie contributors inherited a full share of the brilliant talents and the intense love of literature which PERIODICAL LITERATURE 53 characterized their father. The contents included articles on biblical subjects, sketches of scenery and descriptions of rambles in the country, while those written by Andrew embraced pictures of student life, sketches of excursions to Glasgow and other towns, of skating incidents on Duddingston Loch, and the like. The family contributions also included short poems and essays of considerable merit. Besides writing for "The Manse Journal," Mr Andrew Crichton became a frequent contributor to a number of the leading Magazines of the day. After completing his studies, in course of which he took the degree of B.A., he was licensed by the Free Presbytery of Arbroath, and was immediately thereupon appointed colleague to the Rev. Dr Charles J. Brown of Free North, Edinburgh. There he remained for nearly six years, when he received and accepted a unanimous call to Free Chapelshade, Dundee. His ministry there was very brief, but exceedingly successful. Crowds flocked to hear him, and he at once became the most popular preacher in Dundee. As a proof of his popularity it may be mentioned that at the first letting of seats after his translation, hundreds of applicants were disappointed. His constitution, never very robust, soon broke down, and he died in July, 1867, at the early age of thirty. No less able and indefatigable as a contributor to " The Manse Journal " was his brother, the late Dr James S. Crichton. The doctor, who died in 1887, at the comparatively early age of forty-six, took a foremost place in literary and scientific circles, and his death caused an irreparable blank in nearly every literary, scientific, and philanthropic society in Arbroath. 54 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH ^bc IRuskin IReaDing (BuilD Journal. The last of the MS. magazines to wliich we will here refer, is the organ of the Raskin Reading Guild, which was started in October, 1887, under the guidance of the Rev. Wm. Marwick, to whose youthful literary productions we have already referred. The aim of the Guild has been to diffuse a knowledge of the writings of John Ruskin, and of the authors on whom he looks as his masters, and to promote, by the method of association, careful and thoughtful reading and study of good literature. The membership of the Guild is not confined to Arbroath, branches being formed in Glasgow, Elgin, Edinburgh, and Dunfermline, with associates elsewhere throughout the country, the membership being open to all students of Ruskin and his masters. The MS. Journal, edited by Mr Marwick, the founder of the Guild, was issued monthly from Nov., 1887, to May, 1888 — seven numbers, and two in November and December, 1888 — and includes articles on " Sesame and Lilies " (which was the book first chosen for study by the branches forming the Guild), on " Dante's Minor Works," " Carlyle's Life of Sterling," &c. The magazine was transmitted from branch to branch, and was read at branch meetings, and was then passed on to the associates. On account of the labour involved in its production in MS. form, the necessarily slow circulation, and its growing popularity, it was decided to turn it into a printed magazine, in which form it not only represents the Reading Guild, but the Ruskin and Carlyle Societies throughout the country and is intended to aid, as far as possible, the work of St George's Guild. The first number of the (printed) " Ruskin Reading Guild PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 55 Journal" — 32 pp., price sixpence, Brodie & Salmond, Arbroath, publishers — appeared on New Year's Day, 1889, and has since been continued monthly. Besides giving full information about the various Ruskin and Carlyle Societies, whose organ it is, it contains able articles from well-known writers. It has already taken an honourable place among the literary journals. Mr Marwick continues to act as editor, and he is aided by an editorial committee, comprising Messrs William Jolly and Henry R. Howatt, the president and secretary respectively of the Ruskin Society of Glasgow ; John E. Fowler of the Ruskin Society, Liverpool ; Henry E. West, secretary of the Carlyle Society of London ; J. Marshall Mather, author of " The Life and Teaching of John Ruskin 5 " Albert Fleming, companion of the Guild of St George Rev. John Wellwood, Drainie; Rev. Hugh Cameron, Montrose and J. B. Salmond, editor of the " Arbroath Herald." The printing and general get-up of this new venture are admir- able, and reflect high credit on the publishers. This journal has been well received and favourably reviewed by most of the leading papers. It has been spoken of as rich in promise, and the typography has been referred to as reflecting great credit on the Arbroath press. It has been eagerly taken up by the Ruskin reading public, the first number having been exhausted in a few days after publication. It has since been reprinted. PART II. POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. ^1 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH. " ♦'••» II.— POLITICAL BROADSIDES. ^e^ E have alread}- shown that Arbroath had no newspaper immediately preceding, nor during the stirring times wliich eventuated in the ''>>^^^ s> >l^^^;^a i passing of the Reform Bill of 18-^2. The ^^ l^^i^^^i^tn^k^^ij ^1^ HE collection of broadsides is not so rich in municipal as it is in political posters. Still there are a few which serve to fill up a page in our local history before the period when the Arbroath newspaper press began to record, week by week, the passing events of interest to the community with that fidelity which has all along characterised it. aSurgb TReform. We have elsewhere* at some length explained the constitution and powers of the Town Council and other corporate bodies prior to the passing of the Reform Bill. In many burghs throughout the country there was a profligate waste of public money. Burgesses who had the deepest interest in the Corporation funds had really no voice in their disposal. In many cases magistrates and councillors re nained in office year after year for nearly a life-time, and, as if the office were hereditary, it not unfrequently descended from father to son. It was no uncommon thing for the honest burghers to see the public property plundered without their having the power to prevent it. * "Arbroath: Past and Present," pp. 84-95. I04 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH We have already shown that the members of the Arbroath Town Council and of the various corporations in the burgh had early given ample evidence of their determination to forward the work of reform even at the cost of the extinction of their own peculiar privileges. In the early years of the century they exhibited a praiseworthy desire to amend, or at least to ameliorate as far as possible, by their own hands, the obnoxious acts wliich so oppressively and unfairly bore on the inhal)itants. The following (quotation from the Scotsman of October, 1818, exemplifies this: — " The ^Magistrates and Council of the town of Arbroath petitioned last Convention of Royal Burghs to sanction some alterations in the constitution of the burgh of Arbroath, but the Whithorn petition had so shattered the nerves, disturbed the susceptible minds, and shocked the fine feelings of so many provosts and bailies who were members of the Convention, that they thought it inconvenient to take any more petitions into consideration at last meeting. The petition from Arbroath, among others, was, therefore, not even read. But the Magistrates of Arbroath were too much in earnest to merit the respect and affection of their townsmen, to wait for the tardy co-operation of self-elected juntos— of those, who, if animated with the same liberal spirit, would have shown more zeal in forwaiding the good work of burgh reform. The Town Council of Arbroath, previous to the election in September last, gave notice to the guildry and trades, that though they couUl not of themselves legally alter the form of election, they would nevertheless take the recommendation of the guildry and trades in filling up the vacancies in the council, and would themselves elect the persons MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 105 SO recommended. The guildry and trades accordingly nominated certain persons of their number, who were subsequently actually elected by the Magistrates and Council. It ought also to be noticed, to the credit of the town of Arbroath, that the Guildry of that burgh was, if not the first, at least one of the first public bodies in Scotland who forwarded resolutions in favour of jury trial to the House of Lords." Not only the Council as a body, but its members as individuals advocated strenuously, and in some cases eloquently, the cause of Burgh Reform. At a public dinner held after the last parliamentary election, which took place prior to the passing of the Reform Bill, when on 23rd May, 183 1, at Aberdeen — the then returning burgh of the group — Mr Horatio Ross was unanimously elected, having received all the five votes, Mr Canning, one of the Magistrates of Arbroath, and grandfather of Sir John Kinloch, the present member for East Perthshire, in proposing the toast of " Burgh Reform," spoke as follows : — " I am afraid you will consider it presumptuous for so humble an individual as a Bailie of Aberbrothock to offer himself to the notice of this highly respectable company, but I am induced to do so from having observed that while the system of self-election has been by several speakers eloquently denounced, no bumper has yet been proposed to Burgh Reform, with which the other was wont to be constantly associated. But your silence, I apprehend, proceeds from the very natural supposition, that as the Lord Advocate's Bill will, if carried into law, deprive the self-elected of one of their most important privileges, you consider the members of the Town Councils as poor innoxious creatures, who, though they had the will, will speedily be deprived of the power to do harm. You view us, H io6 B/BLIOGRAPIIV Of ARBROATH in short, as a sportsman does a partridge or a moor fowl that has been quinzed, as too contemptible to be deserving of a shot. But though incapable of soaring to the mischievous altitude to which some of us dared to wing our flight we will be left with the capacity to fly along the surface, and occasionally to light and dab at whatever falls in our way. To be plain, Town Councils may still be the fruitful source of inconceivable mischief, if the same cosmetic with which it is proposed to wash out the stains of our Parliamentary, is not applied to obliterate the foul blots thai contaminate our Burgage representation. In the eye of a candidate for a seat in the Honourable House it may appear that the deprivation of the suffrages with which Town Councils under the present vicious system are exclusively invested should operate as a powerful cathartic capable of purging and purifying the system and restoring renewed vigour and energy to the whole body self-electic (if I may coin a word for the purpose) ; but, a citizen — a free and independent citizen — of any of these burghs will view it in a very different light. He cannot shut his eyes to the glaring fact, that to a few irresponsible individuals is committed the management and appropriation of the whole revenues of the burghs, and that the citizens at large have no more control over their proceedings than the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire have over the deliberations of the Divan. It may be argued, that so many of the burghs having on the present heart-stirring occasion emancipated themselves from the yoke of ages, have earned for themselves, and should obtain an immunity from further molestation. But, I put no faith in death-bed repentance. The miser who becomes prodigal under coercion relapses into his sordid habits as soon as the compulsory MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 107 clause is removed. In like manner the members of Town- Councils, when the patriotism which has been roused by the present glorious and animating struggle shall have evaporated, and they shall have breathed once more the congenial atmosphere of the council chamber, will return to their ancient practices. To alter a line of Pope — ' The creatures will be at their dirty work again. ' If a vacancy in the church is to be supplied — if a parish schoolmaster is to be appointed — if a public work of any kind is proposed — then do the private interests and the inveterate prejudices of the self-elected interfere to disappoint the expectations of the people, or to mar the utility of the undertaking. I object to the present abominable system for another reason, that it admits of one or more of the select body exercising an unlimited control over the others ; and its constitution is such, that even in the best of the burghs one individual, under a pretended zeal for liberty and respect for public opinion, may attempt to lord it over the whole body with an iron despotism, and may insult with vulgar abuse every member who dares to differ from him in opinion. Burgh reform then, in every view that can be taken of the subject, is a desideratum that cannot too speedily be accomplished ; and if not to be the accompaniment, it ought to be the immediate follower of the great measure which at present engages public attention to the exclusion of every other topic." The following broadside proves that those who held the reins of Government in Arbroath in 1831 were not theoretical but were out-and-out practical reformers. In addition to the usual io8 BIDLIOGRArilY OF ARBROATH number whose term it was to retire, and, what was most common, be re-elected, a number more gave in their resignations, with a view to throw open the offices to popular election. The Council thereupon intimated — " To the Burgesses of Arbroath. At a meeting of the Town Council, held this day, the following resolutions were proposed by Mr William Renny, junior, seconded by Mr George Gibson, and carried unanimously. Resolutions : — That the present state of the Council, in consequence of the resignation of so many of its members, affords a good opportunity of evincing to the public the desire of the Council, that not only the interests but the wishes of the Burgesses should be consulted in the election of the Magistrates and members of the Council. That, with this view, the Burgesses be requested, prior to the election of the thirteen permanent Councillors who fall to be chosen at the ensuing election, to submit to the Council the names of any twenty-six of their number whom they would recommend to the notice of the Council as best qualified for filling the situation of permanent Councillors for the ensuing year. That the Provost be instructed to call a general meeting of the Burgesses, to be held on as early a day as possible, for the purpose of enabling them to comply with the wishes of the Council. The Burgesses are there- fore respectfully requested to meet in the Guild Hall, on Tuesday first, the 20th inst, at three o'clock afternoon, for the purpose of arranging the plan of procedure to be adopted, and for appointing a day to prepare the list of twenty-six, in terms of the resolutions of the Council. It will be necessary that the Burgesses produce their certificates of admission, in order that their names may be enrolled to entitle them to vote in the MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 109 nominations. By order of the Council. James Kay, Provost. Council Chambers, Arbroath, 15th September, 1831. In compliance with this invitation the Burgesses met and selected a committee of five of their number, whom they authorised to prepare a list of the burgesses, distinguishing those who were qualified according to the set of the burgh to fill the offices of Provost and Bailies. From this list each burgess was to select the names of twenty-six individuals, and the twenty-six having the greatest number of votes were to be submitted to the old or retiring Town Council, from among whom they would choose the new Magistrates and Councillors. This mode of procedure having been duly carried out, the old Council met, and in conformity with the arrangement, appointed the first popularly- elected Magistracy and Council in this burgh. The following is the result of that novel election : — James Kay, of Woodside, Provost. William Andson, ) . . \- Bailies. Alexander Sturrock,) John Stewart, Dean of Guild. David Forbes, Convener of Trades. William Bower, Treasurer — a Burgess Councillor. James Goodall, ) _ . - Old Provosts. William Kenny, Jun.,) William Finlayson,\ David Muir, ) „ ,01d Bailies. George Canning, George Philip, Robert Allan, merchant, \ Thomas Leslie, shipowner, .-Burgess Councillors. James Anderson, merchant,^ tio Bibliography of arbroath lohn Towns, merchant, ) r- u ,-- -n '. (juild Councillors. Jas. Renny, Jun., engineer,) las. Kirkland, candlemaker, } rr. j , /-. -n •^ ' t Trades Councillors. Jas. Christie, Baker, \ ITbc police Set. The first proposal to adopt the Police Act negatived.— In those days the Town Councils did not possess those ample and compulsory powers in regard to the lighting, paving, drainage, and cleansing of towns which are necessary for the preservation of the health and comfort of a community. The passing, in August 1833, of the General Police Act put it within the power of the inhabitants to avail themselves of its provisions. But as might be expected, when the opportunity was placed within their reach, a considerable difference of opinion arose, and much bitter feeling was manifested. For a month or two after the passing of the Act the question was eagerly debated by the citizens, but the Town Council, in answer to a requisition presented to the Provost, made it known to the inhabitants through the medium of the following placard, that they would have an opportunity of discussing it formall)', and of exercising their powers of either adopting or rejecting its provisions : — " Notice is hereby given, that, in virtue of the powers contained in an Act passed in the third and fourth year of His Majesty King William the Fourth entitled ' An Act to enable burghs in Scotland to establish a general system of police,' the occupiers of premises in the Burgh of Aberbrothwick (as extended by the Act 3 and 4, William IV., entitled ' An Act to amend the representation of the people in Scotland') of the real MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. \\\ value of ten pounds sterling and upwards, are hereby required to meet, upon Thursday the 21st November next, at 12 o'clock, within the Town Hall of this burgh, when the said Act will be laid before the meeting. (Signed) Wm. Andson, Chief Magistrate. Dated the 24th October, 1833." Great were the preparations on both sides for the coming struggle. The advocates for the adoption were led by Messrs James Anderson (writer), James Gibson (tanner), and Robert Lyon (writer), while the leaders of the opposing force were Messrs George Canning, Wm. Kid (banker), and James Anderson (merchant). The speeches at the public meeting were spirited and able on each side. A motion to adopt was proposed and seconded, and a counter motion for a future meeting to be held, at which a regular poll should be taken, was also put to the meeting when the amendment was carried. Immediately following on this, the opponents of the adoption of the Act issued the following poster, of which Mr Canning was the reputed author : — '■'■ To the inhabitants of Arbroath and suburbs. — It may be proper to warn the inhabitants that the adoption of the General Police Act will entail upon every tenant within the town and suburbs who pays £,2 of rent or upwards, an assessment of I id per pound at least, with a certainty that in a few years it will amount to is 6d. From the great extent of ground which Arbroath and its suburbs occupy, as compared with the amount of the population, and the consequent existence in many places of large areas destitute of houses, a natural obstacle appears to present itself to the introduction, on a salutary principle, of an efficient system of police ; but when to this is added the glaring fact that all the streets (if streets they may 112 BiBLIOGkAPHY OF ARBROATH be called, which streets [they] are none) in the suburban districts are absolutely impassable, and in a state of utter darkness, how is it possible that the clauses of the Act with regard to paving, cleaning, and lighting can be beneficially carried into effect without incurring an expense which would not only absorb the maximum rate of assessment, hut incur a debt which none of the present generation would live to see extinguished ? Again, as to the article of water, is there any man who can pretend to say that a supply sufficient for the whole inhabitants could be introduced under an expense of several thousand pounds ? It is clearly impossible to accomplish this part of the Bill alone, therefore the highest rate of assessment for a series of years would be requisite ; and how the other departments would, in the interval, be conducted, let those who are so eager to foist this measure on the town in their wisdom determine. In a compactly built and wealthy town like Montrose, where the streets are already comparatively good, and in general well lighted, and where water has already been introduced, the adoption of the Police Act was highly commend- able ; but in Arbroath, where a great portion of the town is in want of everything comprehended in the Act, and where a large proportion of the inhabitants consist of the humbler classes, who can barely earn a livelihood, and who can ill afford to pay such a heavy and perpetual assessment, how is it practicable to adopt all or any of the clauses of this Act without leaving the very objects proposed to be accomplished by it only half done, and entailing upon the town for ever one of the most grevious burdens which ever was imposed ? "How the inhabitants within the royalty, who already enjoy MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 113 gratuitously all the adv^antages of lighting, paving, and cleaning can quietly submit to be deprived of these privileges, and suffer themselves to be saddled without end with the expense of making streets of the quagmires in the ' Jaw Hole ' of the parish of St Vigeans, appears altogether inexplicable. But will they submit ? Certainly not. Let every occupant of houses or premises, then, of the value of £^\o or upwards, hasten to the poll on Monday, and resist the introduction of all, or any part, of this Act. Once even partially adopted, the assessment never can be got rid of The clerk, and the treasurer, and the collector, and the super- intendent, will be for ever ringing in our ears. The voters must bear in mind that if one iota of the Act be adopted, the appointment of the three officers first above mentioned, and all the paraphernalia of an expensive establishment will become indispensable ; and we may rest assured that we shall not find persons so very patriotic as to undertake to perform the duties of any of these offices for nothing. At some future period, when the town is more densely built and peopled, and when those more immediately concerned shall have rendered their streets somewhat passable ; when the inhabitants in general shall be better able to sustain the burden of assessment, and when we shall have learned as to the working of the Act in other places, then let us turn our attention to it, but not till then. — Arbroath, 23rd Nov., 1833." This placard proved to be very effective, and the result of the poll was a rejection of the Act. Meantime the expense of lighting, paving, and watching the town was defrayed from the surplus revenue derived from the Harbour, and this continued till 1836 when the subject of Harbour extension and improve- 114 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH ment — of which we will speak further on — was brought before the community, and a resolution was adopted with a view to relieve the Harbour of this charge by the adoption of the provisions of the General Police Act, whereby the expenditure referred to should be raised by assessment. In conformity with this resolution, a requisition was presented to the Provost to call a meeting to consider the propriety of adopting the provisions of the General Police Act. The meeting was held on rgth August, and after the usual preliminaries were gone through the Act was quietly adopted. On the 15th September following a meeting of electors was held, when Commissioners were appointed, who in turn met and appointed their officials. Z\iC 1F3arbour. Our next broadside has reference to Harbour affairs. The Arbroath Harbour is not a thing of yesterday. It has already seen some five centuries. Again and again during its long history have its financial difficulties been matter of serious consideration to the towns' folk. In 1836 it was felt that in consequence of the increasing trade of the burgh the harbour should be enlarged, so the Magistrates and Council issued the following invitation : — " Meeting of the inhabitants. — As there appears to be a general feeling among the inhabitants that it will be necessary to devise measure >, very soon, for enlarging the Harbour, in order to meet the increased trade of the Burgh, the Council met yesterday, when it was resolved that a meeting of the inhabitants should be called to take the subject into their consideration, and to devise measures, along with the Town Council, for carrying MUmCTPAL BROADSIDES. 115 this important object into effect. Accordingly, the Magistrates and Council request a meeting of the merchants, manufacturers, ship-owners, and householders of Arbroath, to be held in the Town Hall of Arbroath, on Thursday, the 28th July, instant, at 12 o'clock noon, to take the above subject into serious consideration, and to adopt such measures as shall appear to them to be proper, for facilitating the object in view. Arbroath, 7th July, 1836." Prior to the meeting various calculations as to how the funds should be raised, were made by those most actively interesting themselves in the matter, and a hope was expressed that the neighbouring landed proprietors would allow the quarries on their estates to be worked gratis, to afford a supply of stones for the operations. It seems they had a precedent for this, the laird of Tarrie — when the harbour was building in the reign of George II. — having granted such a permission. For this liberal action on the part of the then proprietor of the estate of Tarrie, it is said that the Magistrates decreed that all grain grown on the said estate should be for ever exempted from shore dues when shipped at the port of Arbroath. The meeting called by this poster was accordingly held. It was numerously attended, and its objects heartily gone into, resulting in an application being made to Parliament for placing the management of the Harbour in the hands of Commissioners. It was at this meeting that the proposal was made (to which we have already referred) to relieve the Harbour funds of the expense of the lighting, paving, and watching of the town. ii6 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH IRailwag /iRattcriJ. The only broadsides which now remain to be noticed, are connected with the opposition which several of the landed proprietors in the neighbourhood gave to the railway projects which were then receiving the material and moral support of the community. We explained the nature of this opposition in '' Arbroath : Past and Present," and need not therefore repeat it here, but the following broadsides — which explain themselves, and therefore require no commentary — may be interesting as samples of the last shots fired in our local railway battle. The first is a poster issued by the Magistrates : — " To the inhabitants of Arbroath. — Yesterday morning a letter was received from London, which contained an extract from a petition presented to the House of Lords by John Hay, Esq. of Letham, against the Arbroath and Forfar Railway Rill, m which he asserted " that many of the subscribers are unable and unwilling to pay their subscriptions." On receiving this letter the Magistrates considered it to be their duty to hold a meeting of the Town Council, when they resolved that the Provost should call on Mr Hay for an explanation. The following letter was accordingly despatched to that gentleman by an express. — Arbroath, i8th April, 1836. — John Hay, Esq. of Letham. — Sir, There was laid before the Town Council to-day a copy of your petition to the House of Lords against the Arbroath and Forfar Railway Bill, in which there are many allegations which surprised them. But there is one expres.sion which they cannot overlook, namely " that many of the subscribers are unable or unwilling to pay what they have subscribed." As the Council are not aware of any of the subscribers who are either unable or unwilling to MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 117 pay their subscriptions, I was directed by them to request of you to mention who those individuals are, to whom you allude, as being unable or unwilling to pay their subscriptions to the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. You will please favour me with an answer by 12 o'clock noon, to-morrow. I write this both as Provost, and as Preses, of the sub-committee to the railway. I am, &c., Wm. Andson. The Provost not having received any answer to this letter, the following letter was sent to Mr Hay, at one o'clock to-day. Arbroath, 19th April, 1836. John Hay, Esq. of Letham. — Sir, I wrote you yesterday requesting an explanation of an assertion in your petition to the House of Lords, against the Arbroath and Forfar Railway Bill, in which you say " that many of the subscribers are unable and unwilling to pay their subscriptions." I required an answer to-day by twelve o'clock, but not having received any answer to my letter, I must conclude that the ex- pression m your petition was unjustifiable and unfounded. As the inhabitants are in a state of considerable excitement in consequence of the expressions in your petition, so much so, that a requisition was presented to me last night to call a public meeting of the inhabitants (a copy of which I enclose) I shall feel it my duty to give publicity to the letters which I have written to you on this subject. I am, &c., Wm. Andson. Here the subject rests, and while the Magistrates hope the inhabitants will be satisfied that they have discharged their duty in this matter, they have the satisfaction to state that at a meeting held this day of a number of gentlemen who signed a requi- sition to call a public meeting on the subject, these gentlemen Ii8 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARBROATH approved of the steps already taken and concurred in thinking that under all the circumstances no public meeting would be necessary. Arbroath, 19th April, 1S36." Next day the Provost having in the interval received Mr Hay's reply, caused the following placard to be posted through- out the town. " Notice to the inhabitants of Arbroath. — Arbroath, 20th April, 1836. — In reference to the notice issued by the Magistrates of yesterday's date, regarding certain expressions in the petition, presented to the House of Lords by John Hay, Esq. of Letham, against the Arbroath and Forfar Railway Bill, Provost Andson has received a letter from Mr Hay, of which the following is a copy: — To Provost Andson of Arbroath. Letham-Grange, 19th April, 1836. Sir, — I am as much surprised at the tenor of your letters as the Town Council are by the perusal of- my petition against the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. My explanation will be given through medium of counsel in the House of Peers, and I beg leave to decline all further correspondence with you on the subject. — Yours, &c., J. Hay." Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of Mr Hay and the other landed proprietors equally determined with him to prevent the introduction to this locality of the railway system, the legislature, as might be expected, declined to listen to their arguments, and sanction was given to the promoters to proceed with the formation of the line then in contemplation, the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. The several broadsides which we have here reproduced, as we have already shown, do not exhaust our budget, but they are sufficient to afford a fair sample of the wall literature which did MUNICIPAL BROADSIDES. 119 duty in those days for the newspapers through which we now make our views and opinions known. In them we see reflected the ability, the courage, and the indomitable perseverance with which our forefathers fought the battle of reform, and thus helped to secure the many privileges which we, their descendants, now enjoy. In our day, when men of every rank can have the world's news of yesterday laid on their breakfast tables at the small cost of a penny, we may be inclined to look down rather contemptuously on these curious placards of our forefathers. But are the advantages and pleasures all on our side ? In these days of hurry-scurry, when we have news of all descriptions, almost ad nauseain, what would many of us not give for a day among the douce but determined reformers of '32 ; who, gathering in eager-eyed crowds around the bill-poster, as he unrolled his bundle of broadsides, discussed, and that, too, as we have seen, to some purpose, the latest moves backward or forward on the political draught-board in that game fraught to them with such important issues. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Samuel Aitken, Imperial Hotel David Allan, Lyttleton, N.S.W. George Allan, Bradford Peter Allardice, Inspector of Police Provost A. D. Anderson, solicitor David Anderson, Victoria Street J. Keith Anderson, M.D., Comley Bank John Anderson, Boysack Hill Joseph Anderson, LL. D., Edinburgh P. W. Anderson, 14 Marketgate Rev. T. S. Anderson, East Free Manse William Anderson, manufacturer Rev. Henry Angus, D. D., Lochshade William Arklay, 21 Duke Street Richard S. Armit, Colliston Alexander Baillie, Cairnconan James Bain, Bank of Scotland, Glasgow D. Hall Balfour, Bank of Scotland James W. Barclay, M.P. for Forfarshire George Bell, Dundonald Street, Edin- burgh William Bell, Kinaldie (4) Andrew Bennet, solicitor (2) John Black, soHcitor, Brechin Black & Johnston, Brechin (4) Thomas Booth, professor of music Robert C. Bowie, Ceylon Henry Braid, Brechin William Brand, slater John Bremnar, printer James L. Brewster, Glasgow William Briggs, chemical manufacturer John Brodie, printer and publisher John Brook, Huddcrsfield A. S. Brown, 6 Jamieson Street Charles Brown, wood merchant George T. Brown, London John Brown, Gask, Forfar John Brown, 25 Fergus Square William Brown, B.Sc, London William Brown, Gask, Forfar John Bulloch, Aberdeen D. Calder, Camberwell, London David R. Calder, 2 Elliot Place James Calder, Ferryden Mrs Cargill, Forfar Robert S. Carlow, gas manager D. Carnegie, author of "Lays & Lyrics" Wm. Carnegie, Public Hall Buildings James Carragher, Townhead, Hamilton Patrick Chalmers, Wimbledon David Chapel, Caenlochan William S. Chisholm, 249 High Street Theodore N. Christie, 4 Fergus Square David D. Clark, 59 High Street John R. W. Clark, solicitor W. G. CoUingwood, M.A. (Oxon), Gill- head, Windermere Sir Michael Connal, Glasgow David Cook, plumber William N. Cooke, Abbey Lodge Charles S. Copland, High Street C. W. Corsar, Seaforth (8) David Corsar, The Elms (8) Alexander Bell Coull, spirit merchant Rev. Alexander Cowe, M.A., Glasgow I ''2 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Alfred Cowe, Craiglug, Turriff George Cowc, Balhousie (3) George Cowe, Ilunslet, Leeds J. Cowe, New Tliuniton Heath, London Robert Cox, of Gorgie, J. P. & D.L., Edinr David Craig, Idvies Mill James Craig, solicitor, Brechin A. Crawford, Fetleresso, Pollokshields S. A. Crowd), Baxter Springs, U.S. Edwin C. Cumming, Greenbank James Camming, manufacturer, Greenhank John Cumming, Augustia, U.S. Menzies Cumming, Corsicana, U.S. William H. Cumming, Lafayette, U.S. William J. L. Cumming, Greenbank George Cuthill, Keptie Street Robert Davidson, 57 Rossie Street Arthur D. Dickson, London Captain David Dickson, R.N. Colonel Jaines A. Dickson, Woodville James G. Dickson, Calcutta Col. J. F. Dickson, Panl)ridc House (4) George Dorward, wholesale grocer George M. Dorward, Woolwich John P. Dorward, West Port William A. Douglas, 37 Hill Street William P. Dowall, Pitalpin, Lochee -Andrew D. Ducat, M.D., London William Ducat, jun., Warslap Alexander Leonard Duke, M. B., CM., The Manse, St Vigeans Fred. Wm. Duke, Bengal Civil Service Sidney Duke, The Manse, St Vigeans Rev. William Duke, D.D., F.S.A., llie Manse. St Vigeans James Duncan, ironmonger .\. M. Dundas, Zetland House (2) Wni. Durie, Custom House, Lerwick Rev. Geo. Durno, St Mary's Parsonage Robert Dyer, plumber Rev. G. O. Elder, F.C. Manse, Borgue D. W. Fairweather, Ilawthornbank (3) Robert Farquharson, glazier Alexander Ferguson, sailmaker (8) John Ferguson, manufacturer (4) Joseph Ferguson, 16 Addison Place (8) Charles Findlay, Glasgow James B. Fitzsimons, Toronto, Canada 1 ). K. Forbes, London James Fotheringham, Carnoustie James Fox, grocer Adam Eraser, 16 Abl)ot Street David Frew, B.A., 8 Garden Street IL K. Frew, Allan (ilcn'.s Institution, Glasgow John Frew, Carnarvon Street, Glasgow I'eler Gardyne, Sa.sinc Office, Edinburgh Andw. Garland, Poplarbank, Liverjwol John (ieddes, photographer James Gibson, Guthrie Hill Robert Gleig, 36 Addison Place D. T. Glenney, watchmaker Henry Gouck, 128 High Street Thomas Gourlay, Westfield, Glasgow .\. Cirant, New York John .S. (Want, Brechin William Grant, 29 Howard Street W. L. Grant, 296 High Street Thomas Gray, Glasgow David Greig, 33 Ponderlaw .Street James Greig, assistant registrar James P. Grewar, cabinetmaker A.Guthrie, Hanover Street, Edinburgh Arthur Guthrie, St David Street, Edinr Peter Hanii)ton. M.R.C.N'.S. Henry Hartley, profes.sor of music, Edinr fohn Hay, Haddington Place, Edinr (ieorge Henderson, publisher, London -Mrs Henderson, Dulwich John Herald, auctioneer (4) LIST 01 SUBSCRIBERS. Mrs Hughes, Viewforth, Edinburgh Robert Hume, 4 Addison Place Robert Hunter, George Street, Edinr William Hutcheon, Newbigging James Hynd, Hodgeton. James Irons, Ironstone Lodge, Glasgow James Jack, chemist Uavid Jarvis, Lochshade James S. Jarvis, Johannesburg, Transvaal William Jarvis. flaxspinner David Johnston, 35 Commerce Street William Johnston, Rosemount, Brechin William Jolly, H.M.I. S., Glasgow (2) Alexander Keith, Toronto, Canada Alexander Reid Keith, London George Keith, Keith Lodge George Keith, jun., London James Keith, M. Inst. C. E. , London James Baxter Keith, London John Keith, 1 1 George Street Dr Richard Kelly, Hamilton Green Jas. Kinnear, M.A., Abbey Public School Mrs Kyle, Millarbank, Uddingston. David Laing, M.D., Maule Street (2) Charles P. Leiper, Banker, Clydebank John Leslie, 19 Cairnie Street George Lewis, publisher, Selkirk David Littlejohn, sohcitor John Littlejohn, 12 Rosebank Mrs Littlejohn, Greenhead .St., Glasgow Alexander Low, 4 West Port William Low, Inspector of Poor, Johns- haven (2) .\ndrew Lowson, Elmbank (8) David Lyell, of Hawkshaw, Peeblesshire George Lyon, tanner Frank M'Bain, B. L. Co. Bank House Henry M'Bain, Bengal (2) James A. D. M'Bain, B. L. Bank House (2) Maurice M'Bain, B. L. Co. Bank House Norman M'Bain, solicitor (4) Robert D. M'Bain, Newcastle James Macdonald, draper W. C. Macdonald, Chattanooga, U.S. W. K. Macdonald, Town Clerk of Ar- broath (4) William Macfarlane, Albert Street Gregor M'Gregor, Dumbarrow A. B. M'Intosh, London John M'Intyre, Hill Road James D. Mackay, upholsterer John Mackenzie, wine merchant J. Winton Mackie, Glasgow (4) James Mackintosh, 22 Castle St., Edinr W. F. Mackintosh, solicitor James M'Leish, 74 Helen Street James M'Leod, 6 Fergus Square John H. W. M'Nab, Cliff Park, Teign- mouth Duncan M'Neill, Superintendent of Police (2) T. D. xM'Neill, Aberdeen Thomas M'Pherson, solicitor, Perth James M'Wattie, tobacco manufacturer James M'Wattie, jun., do. W^illiam C. M'Wattie, engineer, Belfast Sir James D. Marwick, LL. D., F. R. S.E., Town Clerk of Glasgow James Mason, M.D., Cambois, Northum- berland Thomas Mason, St Martin's-in-the-Fields. Free Public Library, London (3) Rev. Wm. Masterton, B. D., Musselburgh Joseph Mather, Kinnells Mill Miss Mathewson, Alexandra Terrace, Car- noustie Alfred T. Matthews, 6 Ann Street William Maxwell, Myreside (2) David Meffan, Cotton of Inchock Robert Melvin, coachbuilder 124 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. John Michie, Church Street William Middleton, cabinetmaker Robert Miller, Tannadice Charles Milne, 164 High Street George Milne, 54 Keptie Street Charles Mitchell, 34 Hill Street John Mitchell, 64 Keptie Street James Moffat, town missionary John L. Moffat, missionary, Thurso David Moncur, Helen Street D. S. Moncur, 242 High Street G. C. Moody, Brixton, London James H. Morgan, So. Mains of Elhie (2) Julin Munro, hide merchant Rev. James Murray, Princes Street U. P. Manse Henry Murty, draper Charles Y. Myles, 21 James Street Andrew Naysmilh, chemist John Nicol, Cemetery Lodge William C. Norrie, Brooklea, Bro'ty Ferry James Oag, Thorndon House, Ashwater, Devon John Ogilvic, bookseller Aikman Ogg, Hillhead, Glasgow Rev. Charles Ogg, Brisbane, Queensland Sir William Anderson Ogg, Oakfield, Dul- wich, London, S. E. {4) W. A. Ogg, manufacturer William S. Ogg, Tower Nook Andrew Paris, Slade, Carmyllie James A. Paterson, Ponderlaw Street Alexander Paterson, 39 W. Newgate St. James Paton, Biuntslield Place, Edinr John Paton, solicitor, Edinburgh James B. H. Peter, 21 Rossie Street William Peter, 21 Rossie Street Alexander Petrie, 6 West Port Rev. J. L W. Pollock, M.A., Free High Manse (2) Tom Pinkney, Creswell Villa, Sunderland Jonathan Raitt, Cairnie Street James Ramsay, Towerbank House (2) George Reid, banker Rev. George Renny, F. C. Manse, Wick Miss Renny, Annesley Samuel Renny, Jock's Lodge (5) Alexander Ritchie, S.S.C. , Edinburgh Alexander Ritchie, Kelvin House, London J. L. Ritchie, Brevier Villa, Hamilton Rev. Robert Ritchie, Parsonage, Inverurie George Robertson, Alexandra Place James Robertson, Broughty Ferry John Robertson, chemist Robt. Robertson, 21 George St., Perth William RoUo, banker Professor James Ross, M D., LL.D., F. R.C. P. , Owens Col., Manchester D. Saddler, Glasgow George Salmond, High Street James Salmond, Legaston James A. Salmond, Newton of Boysack James B. Salmond, editor "Arbroath Herald " (2) Joseph Salmond, Alexandra Place William Salmond, High Street Alexander Sandison, St. Fillans (2) Alcxajider Scott, 7 Duke Street Andrew Scott, High Street D. M. Scott, Lamlash Lighthouse, Arran James Scott, Narva, Russia Richard Scott, baker T. K. Scott, banker, Glasgow Henry G. Seaton, Inspector of Poor James Seaton, Brothock Bridge James Shanks, Roseley (8) William L. Shepherd, 26 Hayswell Road J. Sime, Patriotic Insurance Co., Glasgow A. N. Simpson, Mayfield (2) Alexander Smith, solicitor LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 125 Alexander Smith, wine merchant David Smith, solicitor James Smith, Keptie Ho., Leyton, Lond. James R. M. Smith, banker, Glasgow John S. Smith, ironmonger T. D. Crichton Smith, solicitor, Kelso Rev. Wm. Smith, St. Paul's, Dundee John Souter, East Mains of Dunnichen William Souter, B.L. Co. Bank, Glasgow Alexander Stephen, Linthouse, Govan Donald Stewart, Sherift" Clerk Depute George Stiven, 5 Millgate Loan. Andrew Storrer, 78 High Street John Strachan, 128 High Street Joseph Strachan, Towernook Joseph Gordon Stuart, W.S., Edinburgh Robert Stuart, Inspector, St Vigeans Hon. W. C. Struoc, Sunapee, U.S.A. Andrew Sutherland, manufacturer Andrew Sutherland, jun., San Francisco John Sutherland, manufacturer Robert G. Sutherland, Guthrie Port William S. Sutherland, East London, Cape Colony Mrs Suttie, Union Villa David S. Swan, Murroes, Dundee James Swan, Inverpeffer Alexander Swirles, sen., currier Alexander Swirles, jun., currier John Taylor, 24 Commerce Street Alexander Thomson, 25 Market Place Alex. G. Thomson, Craigmakerran, Perth David Thomson, engineer, Edinburgh George Rutherford Thomson, Marketgate John Thomson, jun., Colville Cottage George Thornton, High Street David Tullis, Glencairn, Rutherglen James T. Tullis, The Anchorage J. Tullis, Inchcape, Dennistoun, Glasgow Thomas L. Tullis, Bearsden W. M. Valentine, banker, Brechin Rev. E. T. Vernon, M.A., F. C. Manse, Arbirlot M. C. Videon, B. L. Co. Bank, Arbroath William Wallace, Fernlea, Carnoustie Arthur H. Walker, 6^ So. Clerk St. , Edinr James Walker, Calcutta William A. Wannan, surgeon, Marketgate Alexander Watt, Paisley Edwin A. Watson, coal merchant J. D. Watson, Burgh Surveyor Francis Webster, manufacturer (4) James Webster, manufacturer James Webster, solicitor Robt. Webster, merchant, Sydney, N. S. W. William W, Webster, Denley (2) James White, 2 East India Avenue, Lond. James Wilkie, 55 Kinnaird Street John Shiress Will, M.P., Q.C., London John Willis, Sheffield James Willocks, jeweller Charles Wilson, 5 Alexandra Place (2) David Wilson, Rosedene David Wilson, 55 Rossie Street John Wilson, manufacturer (6) Thomas Wilson, Broughty Ferry David Wyllie, merchant Alex. Young, 3 Cadogan Ter., London David Young, editor, " N. B. Agricultur- ist," Edinburgh 126 rJST OF SUBSCRIBERS. LIBRARIES. Aberdeen Free I'ulilic Lilirary, per A. ^\■. 'Ihe Miuhcll l-ilaary, Glasgow, per F. T. Robertson, M.A. Arbroath Public Library, per William Carnegie Hrecliin Mechanics and Literary Institu- tion, ])er J. S. Baxter Barrett. I'lymouth Free Library, per \\ . II. K. Wright Ruskin Reading Guild Librar}', ]itr ^^'nl. Marwick Dundee F'ree Liiirary, per J. Maciauehlan .Siirlings and Glasgow Public Library, (2) Glasgow, per William Hutlon Edinburgh Free Public Library, per Hugh .St .Martins-in-the-Fields F'ree Public Lib Morison. rary, jier 'rhomas Mason BY THE SAME AUTHOR, ARBROATH: PAST AND PRliSHNT BEING Reminiscences cJiiefly relating to t/ie last Half Century. Cloth, 5s ; Roxburgh Binding, 6.s. EXTRACTS FROM OPINIONS OP THE PRESS. The volume performs the valuable service of gathering together and putting permanently on record, in a convenient and accessible shape, much that would otherwise have been lost. . . . What Mr ]M 'Bain has done for Arbroath might with advantage be done for every town of any consequence in Scotland, if equally competent pens could only be found. — Aberdeen Free Press. Very welcome and pleasant reading, .... full of personal and familiar interest. — Scotsman. The author has a happy literary style, a retentive memory, and a well-filled note-book, to judge from the rich store of reminiscences this book contains. It is of much more than local interest. . . . There are many people in Scotland who may never have heard of the " Auld Round O," . . . but everybody has read " The Antiquary," and would like to know something about the Fairport of that famous story, which all unite in identifying as Arbroath. — People's Friend. This is an unique book of its class. It does not profess to be antiquarian, but if is not without antiquarian notes to satisfy the general reader. It is a local history ; but as the changes of the past fifty years have affected all parts of the country as well as Arbroath, there are references and incidents of imperial interest of great value ; and then, over and above all, there is the never-failing interest which attaches to all personal reminiscence of the past. The \\ork is full of information, and yet brightened by anecdote and poetical quotations ; the past is wedded with the present. • — Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. This book difiers from an ordinary history in that it deals much more with the actual life of the people, . . . a sort of history that has been far too much over- looked by our leading historians. . . We want to know more about how the pulse of the people beats than about how this and the other great man lived and died. In this view Mr M 'Bain's book supplies an actual want. — Forfar Herald. This is a capital book. Its chief characteristic is fulness ; a fulness of humorous anecdote, local tales, and clever character-sketching. — Scottish Leader. In one word Mr M'Bain has produced a delightful book. To those interested in the growth of our social usages and customs, and in tracing the history of the common people, a work like this is invaluable ; but, as a book of entertainment, to spicy anecdote and curious reading, we have seen nothing better for a long time. — Dundee IVee/cl)' N'rws. 128 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. A most interesting book. . . . The book is pleasant throughout, and the interest is so well sustained, that readers, though quite strangers to Arbroath, will never weary from beginning to end. — Brechin Advertiser. A handsome volume. ... A great deal of what has been written has evidently been the result of personal observation, and it is easy to see that Mr M'Bain is a man with an open eye and a warm heart, overflowing with human sympathy, and gifted with a keen appreciation of the humorous. — Glasgmv N. B. Daily Mail. In our Northern latitudes there are few places that arc entitled to hold their heads so high, both on account of historical associations, natural surroundings, and distinguished citizens, as the town of Arbroatli. The latest tribute to its greatness is Arbrc-vth : Past and Prksent, by Mr J. M'Bain, F.S.A. Scot., one of its most respected citizens. Mr M'Bain's book is distinguished by fulness of information, and by unbounded enthusiasm for everything connected v>'ith Arbroath. — Dundee Advertiser. It gives a really interesting picture of Scottish life in the early part of the century. — Aberdeen Journal. A strong vein of humour enlivens the work. . . . The book will be accepted as an accurate record of the numerous subjects of which it treats. — Scottish Notes and Queries. Mr M'Bain has reason to congratulate himself on the general enthusiasm with which his volume has been received. — Arbroath Herald. It would exceed our limits to enumerate the many and varied topics of interest on which the author pours forth his wealth of illustration and shrewdness of comment. The work is a very encyclopedia of local notabilia. Mr M'Bain is gifted with the power of writing humorous prose, which he knows how to make doubly attractive by utilizing the stores of poetical and anecdotal illustrations, accumulated by the taste and experience of a lifetime, devoted to the social and intellectual advancement of the community of Arbroath. — Hit:;hland Nexus. A most enjoyable book. Mr M'Bain is a capital story-teller, and has no end of capital stories to \.c\\.^ People's Journal. Mr M'Bain has preserved a great deal of unwritten lore, which would otherwise, in a few years, as the representatives of an older generation died out, have been almost entirely lost. His volume will not only be a very valuable work of reference, Init a very interesting and amusing companion for a leisure hour. — Arbroath Guide. Mr J. M. M'Bain, F.S.A. Scot., has made an interesting contribution to Forfarshire local history. — Glasgoxu Evening Citizen. Mr M'Bain tells the history of the town with great clearness and much humour, and his pages are lightened up by many apt quotations from local poets, and by anecdotes "racy of the soil." — Glasgoxo Herald. Far from being devoid of interest to the general reader, the volume will serve as an admirable present to anyone connected with, or interested in, Arbroath. — Montrose Standard. This volume is a very handsome and interesting one, and should afford pleasure to every son of "St Tammas, " and many more besides. — Montrose Reviai.>, J UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. ' 'u *.(-d • , ' : ^^ i ' ■: ■'J7 '^cr"J ■.■ - » ■ i ■ - 3VA" . * *.'-*!ir'»" ■; . - A6M12 literature . Z 2063 A6M12 ■>' VJ mm- In ' ••J ■«