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March IQIS.
Printed by McLagan & CuiinitiHg, Edinburgh.
.MAPPINQTON '3 -EMTRY
THE- ASSEMBLY -ROOMS
THE -ORATORY -
APVOCATEV- CLOSE
THE- ANCIENT- PARLIAMENT -HOUSE
LAPY-STAIR'S -CLOSE -
THE-HETHER -BOW-PORT =
SMOLLETT '5 -MOV5E
BAKEHOUSE -CLOSE -
THE-FOVNTAIH
QVEEN -MARY'S "BATH "
CLOSE
THE-WKITE -HORSE-INN
LAMB3- CLOSE -
TTHB^CVNZIE-HGVSE
-cu
"THE -COLLEGE WYHD
H-THE-WE3T-P<
1823895
I.
IN THIS ALLEY WAS TIIK ENTRANCE TO THE TOWN
HOUSE OF THE EARLS OF HADDINGTON, ABUTTING
ON THE SOUTH END OF THE CANONGATE. ACCESS TO
THE ENTRY WAS OBTAINED THROUGH A COURTYARD
AT THE END OF REID'S CLOSE, CANONGATE.
II.
THE FIRST PUBLIC ASSEMBLY WAS HELD IX EDIN-
BURGH IN THE YEAR I7IO, AND SEEMS TO HAVE MET
WITH A SOMEWHAT MIXED RECEPTION, AS OX OXE
OCCASION THE OLD ASSEMBLY ROOMS WERE ATTACK-
ED AND THE DOOR BURNED WITH RED HOT SPITS.
THE DANCING HOWEVER, WAS CONDUCTED WITH
SEVEREST DECORUM, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
LADY DIRECTRESS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WERE
SEPARATED, AND MET ONLY TO WALK A FORMAL
MIXLIET OR COUNTRY DANCE. LATER THE EDIX-
BURGH ASSEMBLIES WERE AMONG THE CHIEF SOCIAL
FUNCTIONS OF THE DAY, AND BECAME FAMOUS OX AC-
COUNT OF THE NUMEROUS BEAUTIES WHO ATTENDED
THEM.
III.
THIS BUILDING, DESTROYED IN 1845, STOOD ON THE
EAST SIDE OF BLYTH's CLOSE ON THE CASTLE HILL
UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE CASTLE GUNS. TO
THE PALACE OPPOSITE CAME MARY OF GUISE WITH
HER INFANT DAUGHTER, AFTER THE ENGLISH IN-
VASION OF 1544, AND QUEEN MARY IN LATER YEARS,
AFTER THE MURDER OF RIZZIO, AGAIN RESIDED
THERE. THE INTERNAL DECORATIONS OF THE ORA-
TORY, ESPECIALLY THE CARVING IN OAK, WERE EX-
CEPTIONALLY FINE, AND PROBABLY THE FINEST TO
BE FOUND IN OLD EDINBURGH.
IV.
THIS DARK AND STEEP Al.I.EY TOOK ITS NAME FROM
SIR JAMES STEWART OF GOODTREES, LORD ADVOCATE
OF SCOTLAND, 1692-1713, WHOSE MANSION STOOD AT
THE FOOT OF THE CLOSE. IT WAS A FASHIONABLE
QUARTER IN THE EARLY l8TH CENTURY, AND HERE
RESIDED ANDREW CROSBIE, THE FAMOUS LAWYER,
THE ORIGINAL OF SCOTT'S "ANDREW PLEYDELL,"
LORD WESTHALL, JOHN SCOUGALL, THE PAINTER OF
GEORGE HERIOT, AND MANY WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE
OF THE TIME.
V.
THIS OLD HOUSE PROBABLY DERIVES ITS NAME FROM
ITS SITUATION IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE, LEITH,
CLOSE TO THE ANCIENT COUNCIL HOUSE, WHICH
ONE WRITER THINKS WAS THE RESIDENCE OF THE
REGENT LENNOX, THIS HOUSE BEING THE SUPPOSED
MEETING PLACE OF HIS COUNCILS.
-:. -J^f'-''
VI.
A TURRET AT AN ANGLE OF THE CASTLE WALL ON
THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROCK, IS KNOWN AS THE
QUEEN'S POST. IT is BUILT ON THE SITE OF ST MAR-
GARET'S TOWER.
VII.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST HOUSES IN THE HIS-
TORIC WEST BOW. ITS DATE IS UNCERTAIN, HOWEVER,
AND NOTHING IS KNOWN OF ITS OWNERS. IT BORE
THE IRON CROSS OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. OVER
THE LINTEL OF THE DOORWAY WAS THE MOTTO "HE-
YT-THOLIS-OVERCUMMIS" (HE THAT BEARS, OVER-
COMES), AND ITS CEILINGS WERE VERY FINELY
DECORATED IN l6TH CENTURY STYLE. ANOTHER
MANSION BEARING THE SAME NAME STOOD IN EASTER
PORTSBURGH, OR POTTERROW.
VIII.
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LAVVNMARKET IS LADY
STAIR'S CLOSE, WHERE LIVED THE LEADER OF EDIN-
BURGH SOCIETY IN THE EARLY PART OF THE l8TH
CENTURY, ELIZABETH, DOWAGER COUNTESS OF STAIR.
THIS LADY'S MARRIED LIFE WAS VERY ADVENTUROUS,
AND FORMED THE FOUNDATION FOR SCOTT'S TALE,
"MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR." HER HOUSE HAS
NOW PASSED INTO THE POSSESSION OF LORD ROSEBERY
"THE NETHERBOW PORT MIGHT BE CALLED THE
TEMPLE BAR OF EDINBURGH, AS, INTERSECTING THE
HIGH STREET AT ITS TERMINATION, IT DIVIDED EDIN-
BURGH, PROPERLY SO CALLED, FROM THE SUBURB
NAMED THE CANONGATE, AS TEMPLE BAR SEPARATES
LONDON FROM WESTMINSTER." Heart of Midlothian
ITS DOOM WAS PRONOUNCED BY QUEEN CAROLINE
AFTER THE PORTEOUS RIOT OF 1736, BUT IT LIVED
TO BE TAKEN AGAIN BY PRINCE CHARLIE'S ARMY IN
1745, AND WAS FINALLY DEMOLISHED NINETEEN
YEARS LATER.
; ' DURING HIS LAST VISIT TO EDINBURGH IN 1766
THE VISIT WHICH OCCASIONED "HUMPHREY CLINK-
ER" SMOLLETT LIVED IN HIS SISTER'S HOUSE AT
THE HEAD OF ST. JOHN STREET FIRST DOOR UP. A
PERSON WHO RECOLLECTS SEEING HIM THERE DE-
SCRIBES HIM AS DRESSED IN BLACK CLOTHES, TALL,
AND EXTREMELY HANDSOME. HE WAS VERY PEEV-
ISH ON ACCOUNT OF THE ILL HEALTH TO WHICH
HE HAD SO LONG BEEN A MARTYR."
Traditions of Edinburgh.
NO. 146 CANONGATE. THE DRAWING REPRESENTS
THE BACK OF THE PICTURESQUE WOODEN GABLED
HOUSE OF THE MARQUIS OF HUNTLY. IN THIS CLOSE
ALSO IS THE MANSION OF ACHESON OF GLENCAIRNEY
ANCESTOR OF THE EARLS OF GOSFORD.
XII.
THIS FOUNTAIN, WHICH STANDS IN THE CENTRE OF
PALACE YARD, HOLYROOD, WAS ERECTED BY THE
LATE PRINCE CONSORT. IT IS A FACSIMILE OF THE
OLD RUINED FOUNTAIN IN THE QUADRANGLE OF
LINI.ITHGOW PALACE.
XIII.
IN THIS SMAI.I. LODGE, TRADITION HAS IT THAT
QUEEN MARY BATHED HERSELF IN WHITE WINE. IT
WAS FORMERLY ENCLOSED WITHIN THE PALACE
GROUNDS, AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE CONNECTED WITH
THE ESCAPE OF THE MURDERERS OF RIZZIO. A SMALL
INLAID DAGGER WAS FOUND HIDDEN IN THE ROOF
WHEN THE BUILDING WAS UNDERGOING REPAIR
DURING LAST CENTURY.
XIV.
A PICTURESQUE, BUT DILAPIDATED CLOSE, ENTERING
FROM THE WEST PORT AND ABUTTING ON THE
WESTERN SIDE OK THE GRASSMARKET. IT WAS RE-
MOVED IN THE LATTER HALF OF LAST CENTURY, ITS
SITE BEING OCCUPIED BY THE BUILDING, NOW HEAR-
ING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND CITY OF GLASGOW
ARMS, WHICH WAS THE EDINBURGH OFFICE OF THE
CITY OF GLASGOW BANK.
XV.
THIS FINE OLD HOUSE, STANDING ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF THE LAWNMARKET, WAS BUILT ABOUT THE
YEAR 1540, AND STOOD UNCHANGED UNTIL TAKEN
DOWN IN 1878. "ITS NORTH FRONT IS NOT DEFICI-
ENT IN ELEGANCE, THERE BEING DORIC PILASTERS
OF TIMBER INTERSPERSED WITH THE WINDOWS OF
ONE FLOOR, AND SOME DECORATIONS ON THE GABLE
PRESENTED TO THE STREET."
A VERY OLD CLOSE, LYING TO THE NORTH OK QUEEN
STREET, LEITH. THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE ANCIENT
TENEMENT IN THE DRAWING IS A CURIOUS EXAMPLE
OF THE TASTE OF THE OWNER OR THE DESIGNER,
EVERY POSSIBLE DEVIATION FROM THE VERTICAL OR
HORIZONTAL BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE GABLE
TO GIVE IT SOME DISTINCTION ABOVE ITS VERY
COMMONPLACE NEIGHBOURS.
XVII.
"THE OLDEST HOUSE KNOWN TO HAVE KEEN USED
IN THE CHARACTER OF AN INN IS ONE SITUATED IN
THE WHITEHORSE CLOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
CANONGATE A GOODLY STRUCTURE OF ANTIQUE
FASHION HAVING TWO OUTSIDE STAIRS CURIOUSLY
ARRANGED, AND THE WHOLE REMINDING US OF CER-
TAIN HOUSES STILL REMAINING IN THE NETHER-
LANDS." Traditions of Edinburgh. THE BUILDING
DATES FROM THE YEAR 1623, AND WOULD SEEM TO BE
THE RENDEZVOUS, IMMORTALISED IN " WAVERI.EY,"
OF PRINCE CHARLIE'S OFFICERS IN THE '45.
THE: -WHITE- HORSE:' INH
A SOLID SUBSTANTIALLY BUILT CLOSE ENTERING
FROM ST GILES* STREET, LEITH, SIMILAR IN STYLE
OF ARCHITECTURE TO SEVERAL OF THE OLD EDIN-
BURGH CLOSES OF THE PERIOD.
THE CUNZIK HOUSE, OR CUNYIE-NOOK AS IT WAS
CALLED, WAS ONE OF THE SEVERAL EDINBURGH
MINTS, AND WAS SITUATED AT THE FOOT OF CANDLE-
MAKER ROW ON THE WEST SIDE. ALL KINDS OF
ANCIENT SCOTTISH COIN WERE ISSUED FROM THIS
BUILDING FROM THE LORDLY ANGEL-PIECE AND
NOBLE TO THE HUMBLE PENNY AND BAWBEE. IT
WAS IN ACTIVE OPERATION DURING THE REGENCY
OF MARY OF GUISE.
TFTT- CVH 2TFr^HOV5E
XX.
THIS CLOSE IS CHIEFLY NOTABLE AS CONTAINING THE
RESIDENCE OF THE BEAUTIFUL SUSANNAH, COUNTESS
OF EGLINTON. SHE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS " SOME-
WHAT OF A BLUE-STOCKING, DEVOTED TO MUSIC AND
THE MOST CONSPICUOUS PATRONESS OF THE SCOTTISH
MUSES IN HER DAY." TO HER ALLAN RAMSAY DEDI-
CATED "THE GENTLE SHEPHERD." ONE OF THE
SIGHTS OF THE TIMES WAS THE PROCESSION IN SEI >AN
CHAIRS OF THE COUNTESS, WITH HER SEVEN BEAUTI-
FUL DAUGHTERS, FROM STAMP OFFICE CLOSE TO THE
ASSEMBLY ROOMS.
A NARROW DISMAL ALLEY LEADING FROM THE COW-
GATE TO THE BUILDINGS OF THE OLD COLLEGE OF
EDINBURGH, AND IN EARLIER DAYS TO THE COLLEG-
IATE CHURCH OF "ST MARY, IN THE FIELDS"
WHICH GAVE THE WYND ITS ORIGINAL NAME.
"THE ONE PECULIAR GLORY OF THIS HUMBLE PLACE
IS THAT IT WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF SIR WALTER
SCOTT. IN THE THIRD FLOOR OF A HOUSE ON THE
EAST SIDE, ACCESSIBLE BY AN ENTRY LEADING TO A
COMMON STAIR BEHIND, DID THIS DISTINGUISHED
PERSON SEE THE LIGHT ON I5TH AUGUST, 1 77 1. TO
THE UNHEALTHINESS OF THE SITUATION SIR WALTER
HIMSELF USED TO ATTRIBUTE THE EARLY DEATHS OK
SEVERAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS BEFORE HIM."
Traditions of Edinburgh.
THE WEST PORT WAS THE MAIN THOROl'GHKAK
THROUGH THE SUBURB OK WESTKR rORTSBURG]
LYING OUTSIDE THE CITY WALL AND ADJOINING Tfl
GATEWAY OF THE WEST PORT. IT WAS IN TANNER
CLOSE, A NARROW FILTHY ALLEY HARD BY, THAT TH
ATROCIOUS BURKE AND HARE MURDERS TOOK I'l A(
IN 1827.
XXIII.
"THIS INARTIFICIAL EDIFICE, EXACTLY SUCH AS A
CHILI) WOULD BUILD WITH CARDS " IS THE ORIGINAL
" DUMBIEDIKES" MANSION HOUSE, THE RESIDENCE
OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL SUITOR OF JEANIE DEANS
HEROINE OF " THE HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN." IT IS
SAID BY TRADITION TO BE CONNECTED BY AN UNDER-
GROUND PASSAGE WITH CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE.
XXIV.
THE WEIGH HOUSE OR BUTTER TRON REBUILT IN
|66O TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL WEIGH HOUSE DE-
STROYED BY CROMWELL, STOOD AT THE HEAD OF THE
LAWNMARKET, WHERE IT WAS JOINED BY THE WEST
BOW. STANDING IN THE MAIN ROAD UP TO THE CAS-
TLE, IT WAS THE SCENE OF CIVIC DISPLAYS ON THE
ENTRY OF QUEEN MARY INTO THE CITY, AND AGAIN
CAME INTO CONSIDERABLE PROMINENCE DURING
PRINCE CHARLIE'S BLOCKADE OF THE FORTRESS IN
1745-
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