THE SCOTTISH BURGH RECORDS SOCIETY. COMMITTEE. The Right Hon. the EARL OF GLASGOW, Lord-Clerk Register of Scotland. The Right Hon, the LORD PROVOST of Edinburgh. The Hon. the LORD PROVOST of Glasgow. WILLIAM CHAMBERS, Esq., of Glenormiston, LL.D. ARTHUR MITCHELL, Esq., M.D., LL.D., Edinburgh. THOMAS DICKSON, Esq., Curator, Historical Department, General Register House, Edinburgh. SECRETARY-JAMES D. MARWICK, Esq., LL.D., Town-Clerk of Glasgow. TREASURER-T. B. JOHNSTON, Esq., 16 So. St Andrew Street, Edinburgh. THE value of the early Records of the Burghs of Scotland, as throwing light upon national life and manners, explaining national institutions, and illustrating social progress, has been fully recognised, and can scarcely be exaggerated. Some of the Book Clubs, which have contributed so much to the elucidation of Scottish History, have already directed their attention to these Records. The Spalding Club has given the country a peculiarly interesting and valuable series of Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Aberdeen, while the Maitland Club has published notices from the Records of Dysart, and Extracts from the Burgh Records of Glasgow, Prestwick, Edinburgh, and Canongate. Apart, however, from what has been done in regard to Aberdeen, it cannot be said that much more has been affected than merely to break ground in the direction of investigating and publishing Extracts from the Burgh Records of Scotland; and as nothing more is now to be hoped for from the Book Clubs which still exist, this Society has been formed for the special purpose of undertaking the work. Besides Extracts from the Burgh Records, copies of the Charters of Burghs and illustrative Extracts from contemporary local Records will be given, as far as may be considered desirable. The Extracts from the Records of each Burgh will, as far as the Committee consider expedient, be issued separately, and without adhering to any prescribed order. |