Manuscript editions of The Philomathic Society literary magazine
Scope and Contents
Literary magazines of the Edinburgh University Philomathic Society. Each edition is made up of 4-5 contributions by society members, occasionally accompanied by an introduction from the editor. Resultantly, numerous hands are present throughout. Interactive elements are included in each, such as volunteer and subscription lists for subsequent editions, and a suggestions page. Society instructions are issued in each edition - frequently requesting that the magazine is circulated in a timely manner.
Volume 1: 1 May 1868
Editor: Henry Drummond
James Bonallo / The Roman camp at Ardoch and its associations.
James George / To a Skylark; singing on a stormy morning in February.
Henry Miller / The immortality of the Soul not Discoverable from nature.
William Smith / The Imagination
Volume 2: June 1868 [not present]
Volume 3: July 1868
James Bonallo / War in its relation to Christianity and Civilisation
Henry Miller / God in nature
"Demosthenes" [pseudonym] / Criticism upon the June edition
"Junius Brutus" [pseudonym]/ "Aristarchus" criticised
Volume 4: August 1868
William George / Botany; as a branch of education
James George / The vale of youth - an allegory
John Hutton McCulloch / The Covenanters
George Donald MacNaughton / On the connexion between might and right
Volume 5: September and October 1868
James Bonallo / Useful education
"Xenocrates" [pseudonym] / Criticism on August number
William George / History
George Donald MacNaughton / The Sweeping of the Glens
S. H. C / Quarterly Criticism
November 1868: no volume issued due to illness
Volume 6: December 1868
[no author given] / Modern eloquence
"Americanus" [pseudonym] / Longfellow, and his poetry
James George / Life
Volume 8: January 1869
John Hutton McCulloch / nature
James Bonallo / The ladies and education
Charles Stobie / The Scotch girl of the period [excised]
Henry Drummond / Mesmerism and animal magnetism
Dates
- Creation: May 1868 - January 1869
Creator
- University of Edinburgh. Philomathic Society (Organization)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 folder
Physical Location
Gen. 825/4
Custodial History
Presented in an envelope addressed to A. Irvine Robertson, of the Old Manse, Stirling. Postmark 24 February 1943.
Physical Description
6 individual editions of the magazine. Each is in manuscript on lined paper, with pages loosely sewn together into a rudimentary text block without any boards. Resultantly, the front and back pages are the most fragile.
Processing Information
Catalogued by Elin Crotty, July 2026
Cultural context
Genre / Form
Topical
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk