Gazetteer of Scotland

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E I)
Second granted the inhabitants a charter
to fortify the Town; and about the same
time, presented the incorporated trades
■with a standard, which still exists, known
by the name of the Blue Blanket ; this wall
was again built, and the circuit extended,
in 1571. Ail the houses in the old town
are of a great height; eight flats, or stories,
as they are here called, are common, and
some are ten, and even twelve stories high.
This uncommon elevation seems to have
arisen from the confined space on the mid-
dle rjdgeformmg the High Street, andfrom
the desire to be near to the Castle. The
lands or houses in the wynds or lanes, on
the declivities on each side of this street,
are also very high; these lands have a com-
mon stair, giving access to the separate
lodgings or flats, and it is not uncommon to
find from 18 to 24 families in the same
building ; thus rendering these crowded a-
bodes, not only unhealthy and uncomforta-
blebut dangerous from fire. The land in the
neighbourhood of the capital is in the high-
est state of cultivation, and rents high for
garden ground and villas. The modern
mansions and gentlemen's seats are nu-
merous and splendid. In the immediate
neighbourhood may be noticed the houses
of Belmount, Beechwood, Clermiston, and
others ; Collington House and Dreghorn,
Redhall, Hailes, and Spylaw; Dalmahoy,
the principal seat of the Earl of Morton;
and Hatton, formerly belonging to the Earl
of Lauderdale. To the east of the metro-
polis is Prestonfield, and the House of Dud-
dingston, the elegant mansion of the Earl
of Abercorn. Duddingston Loch is a beau-
tiful and romantic sheet of water, near this
mansion, at the foot of Arthur's Seat. One
of the most remarkable of the recent events
in our national annals, is the visit of His
Majesty George the Fourth to Scotland,
and honouring the Palace of his ancestors
with his presence. On the 14th August
1822, the Royal George, having His Majes-
ty on board, anchored in Leith B.oads. |
■While here His Majesty received the me-
lancholy intelligence of the death of the
Marquis of Londonderry. The weather be-
ing unfavourable His Majesty did not land
till the 15th about noon. He was dressed
in an Admiral's uniform, with a thistle
and sprig of Heath on his hat; and a superb
St Andrew's Cross, presented to him by
Sir Walter Scott, in name of the Ladies of
Edinburgh. This evening the town of
Leith was most superbly illuminated. The
procession to Kdinburgh by Leith Walk was
magnificent ; and at Gayfield Place His Ma-
jesty was received by the Lord Provost and
Magistrates, who at a temporary barrier,
delivered to h : .m the Keys of the City. The
cavalcade, after traversing a part of the new
town, arrived, by the Regent^ Bridge, Cal-
ton and Abbey Hill, at the ancient Palace
of the Scottish Kings; which His Majesty
entered, amidst the deafening shouts of tri-
umph of a population remarkable for loyal-
ty and attachment to their Kings,.— of dis-
charges of canon placed upon the Calton
Hill and the Crags, on both of which the
Royal Bannerproudly waved, as well as by
a royal salute from the Castle ; after a short
stay, His Majesty went to Dalkeith House,
the Palace of his Grace the Duke of Buc-
cleuch, about six miles south of Edinburgh,
which had been fitted up for his residence.
On the 15th the King remained at D.dkeith
House, where he repeatedly expressed him-
self highly delighted with his residence,
with the reception he had met with on his
landing, and the orderly and decorous ap-
pearance of his Scottish subjects, and the
intellectual dignity of their manner. A
most brilliant illumination took place in
Edinburgh this evening, never exceeded
on any former occasion. On Saturday the
17th His Majesty held a Levee— the atten-
dance on which was most numerous and
splendid. The King, in compliment to the
Country, appeared in complete Highland
costume, made of the Royal Stuart Tartan.
The company of Royal Archers did the duty
of Body Guards. AttheLeveenot less than
2000 persons were presented. On Monday
the 19th His Majesty held a Court, and Clo-
set Audience at Holyrood Palace, when ma-
ny loyal addresses were presented. On the
20th the King held a Drawing Room, which
was attended b? about 500 ladies of the
most distinguished rank, fashion and beau-
ty in Scotland. On the 22d His Majesty
visited the Castle. On this occasion the
streets presented a scene of extraordinary
animation. The Regalia of Scotland ( which
had been previously removed to Holyrood
from the Castle), was carried in procession,
and afforded to the dflighted populace a
sight of their long lost Crown and Sceptre.
The procession was most impressive, — it
was splendid without being gaudy; and
while the variety of the different costumes
was admirably calculated for effect, the ju-
dicious mixture of the Clans with their tar-
tan habiliments, and of the assembled
troops, formed a happy relief to the official
splendour which marked the other parts of
the pageant. His Majesty was dressedin a
Field Marshall's uniform. The King as-