Scotland > 1825-1826 - Pigot & Co.'s new commercial directory of Scotland for 1825-6

^Hsotk€o.'&
EDINBURGH
JBircftoi'p.
The Charity Workhouse stands likewise in the
southern di,stiict. It was erected bv voluntary con-
tributions in 1743," Tlie principal funds for tlic
support of this institution are, a tax on the \'alued
rents of Ihe city, the collections at the church door.= ,
charitable doualLons, and contributions. In the
year cndiujion the 30th of June, 1822, 641 iiiuiales
were wholly or partially maintained and clollied in
the Isouse, out-door assistance to the amount of
1775/. 17 D. 6d. was given to 924 families and indivi-
duals, besides 253/. I5s.2fi. as temporary supjilies
to others, and 442/. Is. paid for 117 children at
nurse. — Tliere is also another Workhouse iu the
parish of St. Cuthberc, which was opened in 17fi2,
and is conducted nearly on the same plan with the
former.
The Merchant Maiden Hospital was founded in
1695, by a voluntary contribution, for the education
and maintenance of daugliters of merchant bur-
gesses of Edinbuigb. JMrs. Mary Krskine gave 1000/,
besides several olhcr sums, for the purchase of a
bifildiug. The foundation-stone of the present
editice, which is of Grecian architecture, w^s
laid on the 2nd of August, 1816; it is 180 feet in
length, and cost in tlie erection and fitting up
12,250/. The girls, of whoju there are generally
about 80 in the house, are taken iu from seven to
eleven, and must goout atseventeen. Oulearing (he
hospital each receives 9/. QsM. The annual revenue
is about 3,000/.
The Trades' Maiden Hospital was founded in
1704, by the incorporations, for the maintenance
and education of the daughters of decayed trades-
men. To this hospital also Mrs. INIary Erskine was
a liberal contributor. About 50 girls are main-
tained and educated here. The building stands on
the ."onth side of Argyll Square.
The Orphan Hospital was planned by Andrew
Gairdner, merchant iu Edinburgh, in the year 1732,
and the present building was founded in 1734. Into
this hospital orphan children, not under seven
years of age, are received from any part of the
Kingdom. The revenues, which are inconsiderable,
are chiedy derived from benefactions, and part of
^he'sums collected at tlie church doors. It stands a
little to the eastward of the north bridge, and con-
iains about 150 orplians.
The Trinity Hospital owes its foundation to Mary
of GueldiX's (who also founded Trinity College
Church) in the year 1461, for the reception of thir-
teen poor persons. The present building, situate
iu Leith Wynd, provided, in 1823, for 9 men and
31 women, besides grantuig an allowance of 6/. each
to 100 out pensioners. None are received under 50
years of .we. The clothing, diet, and lodging are
most coiufbi table ; and there is a resideut chaplain.
Asyhon for the Indigent Blind. The idea of this
institution was first communicated by the late Dr.
Blacklock to Mr. Miller, both bluid. After various
pieetings, subscriptions, and communications, a
house was takeu iu 1793, audnine persons admitted.
In 1795, the directors purchased a house on the
Castle Hill. In 1806 they bought property in Nichol-
8on's-street for 1575/, and iu 1822 other property in
the same street for 2,200/. Tlie lower part of these
Ifaildings is advantageously laid out in shops, while
the upper part is retained for the accommodation of
the objects of the institution. These two asylums
separately contain about 63 males and 19 females.
The former are employed in making mattresses and
cushions of hair, wool, aud straw, baskets, mats,
hair gloves, nets, cord, and twine, and in weaving
linen and cotton cloths ; the latter are engaged in
needle work, net-work, spiuning, and knitting.
Of all these various kinds of articles there is coii-
statuly an assortment for sale at the asylum. The
institution, which is supported by voluntary contri-
butions, with tlie profit of the manufactured arti-
cles, now affords the means of subsistence (includ-
ing old female peusiouers) to morethau 100 indigent
blind.
The Institution for the Education of Deaf and
i)«Hj6 C/zi/(/;-«r was established in 1810. Indepen-
dently of religiG'iib instructioiij the pupils are taught
D
reading, writing, arithmetic, composition, and even
articulation. The boys are generally taught some
trade, and the girls those things which may be of
use to tluin in society. The establishnieut, con-
ducted by IMr. Kinuiburgh, is at Clarcniont, Stock-
bridge, and contains about 70 pupils.
Tii ' ISJafidaten Asylum was originally instituted
iu 1797. The object of the society is to reclaim
tho.se unfortunate females, who have deviated from
the path of virtue. By the report of 1822 it appears,
that, of 432 young wouien, who had been admitted
since the commencement, 104 had been sent to ser-
vice, 81 reconciled to their friends, 12 had been
creditably married, 8 had died, and 38 remained ia
the house at the end of the year. This charity is
supported by coutrii)uiions, bequests, and the pro-
fits of the women's work. The new building, situ-
ate iu Cauongate, was opened iu 1807, and is
intended to accoiumodate from 50 to 60 penitents.
Ministers' If'iduws' Fund. This meritorious
scheme originated in 1743, received the sanction of
Parliament in 1744, aud was established on its pre-
sent footing by an act passed iti 1814, when it was
recommended, that a voluntary subscription .should
be enteied into among the contributoni ; that an
addition of 20 percent on the former rates should
be imposed; tliat every person in future admitted
to a benefice for tlie first time, or to an office in the
university, should pay a contribu&n of 10/; a grant
was made of the bishops' stipends in Scotland,
and of the stipends of tlie vacant churches. The
four annual rales, to one of wliich every minister
and professor is sutiject, are 3/. 3.f., 4/. 14*. 6W.,
6/. 6>., and 71. \7s. iid. 'fhe widow is entitled to
an annuity, corresponding to the rale he has chosen ;
and liis children, if he leaves no widow, for ten
years to the annuity, wiiich would have been paya-
ble to the v\'idow. — Similar schemes haye been
formed by the Society of Writers to the Signet, the
Parochial Schoolmasters of Scotland, and by tlic
Dissenting Clergymen. The Scottish Widows' fund
and Life Assurance Company is ojjen to the public ;
there is also a Society for the Sou>< of the Clergy,
and another for the Destitute Sick, with some
others.
Horn's Charity distributes the interest of 3,500 to
day-labourers out of employment at Christmas,
&c. — Il'aison's Bequest, with a fund now amounting
to 100,000/, is appropriated to the building and en-
dowing of an hospital for children, similar in prin-
ciple to the Orphan Hospital. — Thomson's Bequest
consists of extensive lands and heritages, the inte-
rest of which was to be expended iu the purchiise
of oatmeal, or of oats to be made into meal, to bp
retailed among the poor householders of Edinburgh
at ten pence, wlien the price of a peck should ex-
ceed that sum. This betiuest, however, with its
accumulated fuud, has never yet; been acted on. —
Dr. Robert Johnston's Bequest of 3,000/ is equally
appropriated in finding employment for the poor, in
clothing the boys of Heriot's Hospital, and in sup-
port of poor exhibitioners at the university. — The
income of Mr. Strahan's* estate, now upwards of
300/ a year, is bestowed in small annual sums oji
poor old people not under sixty five years of age,
and on Orphans not above twelve, — Besides thesje
institutions, Edinburgh possesses a Society for the
Suppression of Begging, a Savings' Bank, an Insti-
titution for the Relief of Incurables, an Association
for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, and many others.
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
The Theatre, which stands at the north end of
the North Bridge, exhibits an unadorned exterior,
but the inside in elegautlv fitted up. This building
was opened in 1769. The prices of admission, at that
time, were three shillings for the boxes aud i)it, two
shillings for the first gallery, and one shilling
for the second or upper gallery ; at these prices the
house easily held 140/. The box seats have since
been raised to five shillings. Mr. Murray, who rents
the theatre at 2000 guineas, annually introduces to
the nublic of Ediiiburgh most of the celebrated
London performers.
2*>