Slides for presentation of 25 Feb 2011.

1. The Library of Charles Areskine Book Collecting & Lawyers in Scotland, 1700-1760 Karen Baston Doctoral Research Student University of Edinburgh

2. Charles Areskine of Alva Edinburgh Regent Professor of the Law of Nature & Nations at Edinburgh University Advocate Solicitor General Lord Advocate Lord of Session (Lord Tinwald) Lord Justice Clerk 1680-1763

3. Some Selections from Areskine’s Library A collection of various types of books with law at its heart

4. Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh Lawyer, Politician, Scholar Recommendations for the Advocates’ Library: Law – primary discipline History, Rhetoric, Criticism – aspects of legal study

5. Charles Areskine’s Library Catalogue The Library Catalogue of the Most Learned Lord, Charles Areskine of Barjarg, Solicitor General 1731. •Lists 1290 Books •Divides Books into Legal & Miscellaneous Categories •Legal Library has evidence of interest in concerns of legal humanism as well as books for legal practice •Miscellaneous Library shows engagement with Scottish Enlightenment culture & British culture in general

6. Restoration Charles Erskine (1716-1749) Lawyer & MP Areskine’s son needs to be restored to the historical record An important link between Edinburgh & London

7. Tools for Legal Humanism Printers create texts for scholars Areskine’s books give evidence for his interest in innovations in book production technology in the service of scholarship

8. Provenance Bookplate of Charles Areskine of Alva, Lord Justice Clerk Some of Areskine’s books were previously owned by other lawyers His surviving son inherited them and continued to use them Areskine’s books were later dispersed and are now in collections worldwide

9. Original Contributions • The Catalogue • Restoration of the Two Charleses • Books as Tools for Legal Humanism • Provenance Studies

10. …history informs us of nothing new or strange….Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature, by showing men in all varieties of circumstances and situations, and furnishing us with materials from which we may form our observations and become acquainted with the regular springs of human action and endeavour. David Hume An enquiry concerning human understanding With thanks to: