In 1715, Mr Ruddiman added to his other avocations that of printer, admitting a younger brother of his own, who had been bred to the business, as a partner of the concern. The first production of his press, was the second volume
of Abercromby's Martial Achievements. Amongst the learned works of note, which he printed subsequently, were, the first volume of "Epistolae Regum Scotorum," 1722, for which he wrote a preface; "Ovidii Excerpta ex Metamorphoseon Libris," containing English Notes, by Willymot and himself, 1723; Herodian, 1724; Pars Prima of his own Grammaticae Latin re Institutiones, 1725, which brought him a great accession of fame and profit; and Pars Secunda of the same work. He also printed, in 1733, " A Dissertation upon the Way of Teaching the Latin Tongue."
In 1718, Mr Ruddiman took an active part in forming a literary society the first, it is believed, which was established in Edinburgh. It was originally composed of the masters of the high school, but was soon joined by many of the most eminent persons in the city; amongst these was Mr Henry Home, afterwards lord Kames. Of the proceedings of this society, however, nothing is known, as its records, if there ever were any, have all disappeared.
It had long been an object of Mr Ruddiman's ambition, after he became a printer, to obtain the appointment of printer to the university, and he was at length gratified with the office. In 1728, he was nominated, conjunctly with James Davidson, printer to the college, during the lives of both, (so their patent ran,) and during the life of the longest liver. Previously to this, viz., in 1724, Mr Ruddiman began to print the continuation of the Caledonian Mercury for Holland, who was then its proprietor; but in 1729, he acquired the whole interest in that paper, which was transferred to him in March of the year just named, and continued in his family till 1772, when it was sold by the trustees of his grandchildren.
Notwithstanding the variety and importance of his numerous avocations, Mr Ruddiman still retained the appointment of assistant-librarian in the Advocates' library, and never allowed any of these avocations to interfere, in the smallest degree, with the faithful and diligent discharge of the duties of that office. He was still, however, up to the year 1730, but assistant-librarian, the situation of principal keeper being in the possession of Mr John Spottiswood; but in the year named, his long and faithful services in the library were rewarded by the chief appointment, on the death of Mr Spottiswood. In Mr Ruddiman's case, however, this promotion was entirely honorary, for it was unaccompanied by any additional salary.
Mr Ruddiman's reputation as a Latinist now stood so high, that he was employed to translate public papers. Amongst these, he translated the charter of the Royal Bank from English into Latin, before the seals were affixed to it; and also the city of Edinburgh's "Charter of Admiralty." His wealth, in the mean time, was improving apace. All his undertakings succeeded with him, and his diligence and economy turned them to the best account. He was in the habit of making periodical estimates of his riches, which he entered in his memorandum books. These show a gradual increase in his wealth, and discover that it had amounted in 1736 to £1985 6s. 3d.
Amongst the last of his literary labours, was an elaborate preface, or rather introduction, to Anderson's "Selectus Diplomatum et Numisniatum Scotiae Thesaurus;" an able and learned disquisition on various subjects of antiquity. Being now in the sixty-fifth year of his age, he ceased, for a time, after the completion of the work just spoken of, from every kind of literary employment; and, nearly at the same period, resigned his half of the printing concern to his son, allowing, however, his name to remain in the firm, in order to continue its credit.
