Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/884

Rh EDINBU 874 KlUNlirui.ll. throne l.y tin 1 title of Jurat* I., after having granted the md in, the first post wnt out to London, "a the introduction of episcopacy in 1637, Edinburgh si.U d with th- (i-n<Tul Assembly, and in loin I.' t general, took possession of it was again visited by
 * I., and in 164.'; n League and Covenant

was here confirmed by the Estates and General Assembly, who bound themselves to aid tin l-'.n.nli.-h parliament for tin defence of religion. After the king's death, Charli-n 1 1 was proclaimed here, and the town was taken by Crom- well in 1650, after his victory at Dunbar. The castle was then occupied by an English garrison, which kcj session of it till the, Itestoration. At this time episco- pacy was restored, and the Gross Market became a spot of thrilling interest, from tho number of Presbyterian Protestants who there suffered martyrdom. On the triumph of the liberal party at the involution, Presby- terianism was finally established, and the chapel of Holyrood was destroyed, though the castle held out under the Duke of Gordon till 1690. After the union of Scotland with England in 1707, and the transference of the parliament and privy council to London, many of the nobility removed thither, leaving Canongate almost deserted. The national sympathy for tho dethroned Stuarts also tended to confine tho nobility to tin ir estates, and in 171S the Jacobites thought themselves sufficiently strong to attempt a surprise of Edinburgh Castle, but unsuccessfully. In 173G an alarming riot took place, occcasioned by the reprieve of John Porteous, Captain of the City Guard, whose history is told in " Tho Heart of Mid Lothian." On the receipt of the warrant for his reprieve from Queen Caroline, then regent, the popular indignation could not be rcsti and tho captain was forcibly carried from prison and hanged on a dyer's pole in tho Grass Market. Nine afterwards, in" 1745, the city was taken possession of by the rebels, and Prince Chanel Edward Stuart was lodged in the palace of Holyrood. After the defeat of tho Pre- tender's forces, and the re-establishment of order, the prospects of the city brightened, and many of the nobi- lity and gentry who were not called on to attend the parliament in London, resorted to Edinburgh for the 'nent of tho luxuries and gaieties of the Scottish capital. This caused a demand for suitable accommoda- tion, and in 17 v; an AM of Parliament was obtained for the entire renovation of the city. Many of the old houses were pulled down, and lines of handsome streets erected in their stead. The lioyal Exchange, in the High-street, was amongst the first of tho new buildings, followed shortly by the North Bridge, across that valley which WM constructed with the design of erecting a new town on the opposite eminence, beyond the North Loch. 1' r this project an Act was obtained in 1767, and St. An- drew's-square formed the nucleus of the new town. A similar extension took place on the S. side, where George- square, Brown-square, and many handsome streets rose in rapid succession. The following century was a period of political tranquillity, marked chiefly by the social vemcnts which were effected, us the introduction tit the first penny post by P. Williamson, in 177 1 the establishment of a regular line of mail-coach . whereas previously communication had been main- sixteen ila 'pli-h tlie journey between Edin- burgh nml London. In 1 '. caini wai disturbed by a great religions excit mem- il Assembly seceded from tip ; Church of Scotland, and quilting St. Andrew's church, where the annual meeting of the Assembly was held, retired toTanhVld Hall, in Canon Mills, thus founding the Free Church of Scotland. The municipal all , lord- provost, who is admiral, and lord - ik, 31 md" I) . i:y ! Previ i ,s,ini{,,i tin- ltiiiv,h 1. burgh was a clone corporation, the rewniio limn onrcea amounting to ^7,-Vj t ;  Inn i drawn up in 1833, under tho authority of the magistrate* and reformed council, the del amounted to 425,194, exclusive Ms on account of tho Leith docks. Under tin ili' city became insolvent, and an Act was paM August, 1833, conveying i rtain properties an to trustees for it.- liich in IMiO, under the im- proved management, ] lueed i':;7, '':;;. P, George III., granted in 1794, the lord-provost, wh . previously sheriff and coroner, was < lieutenant of the county of tho city, which dignity was confirmed by the Edinburgh Municipal!! of 1856. Thil Act increased the numb ;!,,rs from 33 to 42, and tho number of wards from 5  but loft unchanged the municipal boundaries, which coincide with the parliamentary, as fixed by th. 2 and a William IV., cap. 65. Edinburgh sends two members to parliament. In 1861, the parliamentary und municipal constituency was 8,680, out of a total p. tion of 168,098, exclusive of Leith, which numb, red 33,530. In 1851 the population of Edinburgh WM] 120,573, and that of Leith ii.::o.!, showing an increase lor tho decennial period, in tho former of 47,525, and in the latter of 13,228. Since the cmmm m -emi-nt of the present century the population has more than douliled, the census of 1801 giving only (i6,5U tor tin city and suburbs. Although not half so populous as Glaif^H Edinburgh is not only the nominal, hut the virtual c^^H of Scotland, being the centre of political and mil life. Its inhabitants are composed, to a great persons of independent piopeny, bankers, annui and the liberally educated classes, excelling in tMl respect every other town in the I ' i This circumstance, taken in connection with the ahundaa^l and cheapness of the necessaries and luxuries of Hffl the facilities it enjoys for education, and the < grandeur of its environs, has obtained I i nues of "Modern All similarity which modern travellers assert equally applies to its physical aspect. Mr. Williams, ad .>rdi of Stuart, says, "The distant view of Atln i JKge&n Sea is extremely like that of Edinburgh tn.m the Firth of Forth, except that the latl The ranges of houses are n daiiiK Kiss- ing anything that London or Dublin being built of stone, have a solidity anil va.-tness v gives them the appearance of palaces in tl stranger. The stone, which is as cheap as brii.k, and polish, is procure i neighbouring qua ugleith. where some of the pits are 250 teil deep. The eiieumM.r whole of the new town of Edinburgh having 1 the present century, in r and well-considered plan, gives it the mlva 1 ity of design; it- spacious and 1, its public buildings and monument - and the most made of its admirable site, exaggeration to say that this portion, at leas' burgh remains unsurpassed for simple el< unique grandeur. The city, as seen from < of the Old and New town, bui four or five hills, and covering a space i. mare miles, being in form a decagon of 8 miles in cirnr ence. To the S.K. is the < lid Town, occupying the summit of a wedge-shaped hill, cv to Holyrood, a lrii-_'th length of which is ti small mehini; nil' nn either This street is designated ( 'aimn^ate toward High-street in the oentre, and tin I, awn .M ". After i-merging Iroin ' this street v . lined on cither side hy lofty hi/u.-es, with anti I sperscd with numerous pu 1 . ami n,,u intervals by massive ornamental 'i Hge long gone by. Alter passing by ami the Victoria Hall, the under the name of Castle Hill finally emerges on the ide or open an .i hell i.
 * liy a monthly coach, which took from tw.