# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Maidment, James

​MAIDMENT, JAMES (1795?–1879), Scottish antiquary, was born in London about 1795. His father, a solicitor, was descended from a Northumberland family, and an ancestor of his mother was the Dutch patriot John van Olden Barnevelt. Called to the Scottish bar in 1817, he soon took a high position as an advocate in cases involving genealogical inquiry, and was much engaged in disputed peerage cases. On general legal cases he was also much consulted, and his written pleadings in the court of session proved his great ability as a lawyer. He died in Edinburgh, 24 Oct. 1879, and was buried in the Dean cemetery. He was an extensive collector, and the sale, in May 1880, of his library occupied fifteen days.
Maidment early showed a taste for antiquarian and historical research, and it was mainly this that led to his friendship with Sir Walter Scott, Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, and other men of letters. His publications were very numerous. Many were anonymous, several were privately printed in small editions and are now rare. He published generally with John Stevenson (Scott's ‘True Jock’) and his son Thomas G. Stevenson. He edited works for the Bannatyne, Maitland, Abbotsford, and Hunterian Clubs, and for the Spottiswoode Society; and he was the principal and responsible editor of Kay's ‘Edinburgh Portraits,’ 2 vols. 1837. One of his most valuable works is the ‘Dramatists ​of the Restoration,’ 14 vols. Edinburgh, 1877, in the editorship of which he was assisted by William Hugh Logan.
Other of Maidment's compilations were: 1. ‘Nugæ Derelictæ: Documents illustrative of Scotish Affairs, 1206–1715,’ with Robert Pitcairn, 1822. 2. ‘Reliquiæ Scoticæ: Scotish Remains in Prose and Verse, from Original MSS. and Scarce Tracts,’ 1828. 3. ‘Letters from Bishop Percy, John Callander of Craigforth, David Herd, and others, to George Paton (late of the Custom House, Edinburgh), with an Appendix of Illustrative Matter, Biographical Notices, &c.,’ 1830. 4. ‘Historical Fragments relative to Scotish Affairs from 1635 to 1664,’ 1832–3. 5. ‘The Argyle Papers,’ from the manuscripts of Robert Mylne, 1834. 6. ‘Galations: an Ancient Mystery,’ 1835, taken down from the recitations of the Guisards at Stirling about 1815. 7. ‘Fragmenta Scoto-Dramatica, 1715–1758, from Original Manuscripts and other Sources,’ 1835. 8. ‘Bannatyniana: Notices relative to the Bannatyne Club, instituted in February m.dccc.xxiii.; including Critiques on some of its Publications; with a curious Prefatory Notice, including Letters to and from Sir Walter Scott, Notes, &c.,’ 1836. 9. ‘Analecta Scotica: Collections illustrative of the Civil, Ecclesiastical, and Literary History of Scotland, chiefly from Original Manuscripts,’ 2 vols. 8vo, 1834–7. 10. ‘Roxburgh Revels, and other relative Papers; including Answers to the Attack on the Memory of the late Joseph Haslewood, with Specimens of his Literary Productions,’ 4to, 1837. 11. ‘Court of Session Garland: with an Appendix,’ 1839. 12. ‘Scotish Elegiac Verses on the Principal Nobility and Gentry, from 1629 to 1729, with interesting Biographical Notices, Notes, and an Appendix of illustrative Papers,’ sm. 8vo, 1842. 13. ‘The Spottiswoode Miscellany: a Collection of Original Papers and Tracts, illustrative chiefly of the Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, with Biographical Notices and Notes,’ 2 vols. 8vo, 1844–5. 14. ‘Genealogical Fragments,’ 8vo, 1855. 15. ‘Scotish Ballads and Songs, with illustrative Notes, &c.,’ 12mo, 1859. 16. ‘A Book of Scotish Pasquils, 1568–1715, edited with Introductory and Prefatory Remarks,’ sm. 8vo, 1868. 17. ‘A Packet of Pestilent Pasquils,’ a supplemental part to the ‘Book of Scotish Pasquils,’ 8vo, privately printed, 1868.
[T. G. Stevenson's Bibliography of Maidment (Edinburgh, 1883, with portrait), covering the period from 1817 to 1878, is complete and authoritative, and its copious notes on his works are especially valuable in view of the errors that have been made regarding Maidment's anonymous publications; it includes the obituary notices in the Edinburgh newspapers; see also Irving's Eminent Scotsmen.]
J. C. H.