Edinburghor Midlothian

Edinburgh, or Midlothian, a coast county in the S.E. of Scotland, lying for a length of about 12 miles along the S. of the Firth of Forth, 35 miles in length, and with a breadth varying from 13 to 16 miles; containing 261,602 acres, much of which is pasture-land. In the southern part of the county are the Moorfoot and the Pentland Hills, the latter of which, starting from the neighbourhood of Peebles, run from S.W. to N.E. to the centre of the county, coming within 4 miles of Edinburgh. There are fine views from the tops of the hills. There are no great rivers, but the North and South Esk are noted for the beauty of the scenery in the neighbourhood. The only river of note is the Water of Leith. The county is upon the coal formation, and coal, limestone, and sandstone are much worked. The climate in the hills is cold and healthy, and on the coast dry, cold east winds prevail. The soil is. for the most part, a clayey loam, with some sand and gravel. The farming is good, and there is much pasture, with its accompaniment of dairy-farms, as friends of Jeanie Deans will remember. There is communication by the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, and several railways centre here. Edinburgh ale is celebrated, and the chief seat of Scottish paper manufacture is along the North Esk. The county returns one member to Parliament.' The principal towns are Edinburgh, Leith, Dalkeith, Musselburgh, and-Portobello.

2. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is in the county of Edinburgh, about 2 miles from the Firth of Forth, 333 from London, 42 from Glasgow, and 105 from Aberdeen. As a parliamentary borough it has four single-member divisions, and its municipal head is the Lord Provost. The town is situated upon three ridges or heights, running in an E. and W. direction, and is about 3 miles long, and the same in width. Lofty hills surround it on all sides save the N" where it slopes gently to the Firth of Forth. The Old Town is on the central ridge, and extends from the Castle on the W. to Holyrood House on the E., which has the Calton Hill, Salisbury Crags, and Arthur's Seat, for a background. To the N., and separated by a valley once occupied by a loch, is the New Town. The sides of the hollow are gardens, and the valley is crossed by bridges. The houses of the New Town have a bright appearance, being of white freestone, and the fine Princes Street, which is built on the N. side of the loch, and has only one side, affords a fine view of the Old Town. The best view is to be obtained from Calton Hill, which gives a view of the Firth of Forth, and the hills of Fife beyond. To the S. and across another hollow, over which there are two bridges, is another comparatively new part of the town. The Old Town has a mile-long street, which rises from Holyrood House to the Castle Hill by a steep incline. The different parts of this street have been made familiar to us by Scott - the Canongate, Netherbow, Lawnmarket, Castle Hill, etc. The houses of the Old Town are, for the most part, ancient and lofty. Among the places of interest are the Parliament House, now part of the Court of Session, the ancient Cross (restored by Mr. Gladstone), the Tron Church, and the Netherbow Port, near which is the house of John Knox. The old closes and wynds branch off laterally on each side of the main street. Of the New Town the chief streets are Princes Street, George Street, and Queen Street, all parallel. As already said, Princes Street gives a splendid view of Calton Hill, Salisbury Crags, and Arthur's Seat. A pathway winds along and up the face of the crags. The Castle contains the ancient regalia of Scotland, and here is Mons Meg, a piece of ordnance said to have been cast in 1486. Holyrood House dates partly from James V., but most of the building is of the time of Charles II. Queen Mary's rooms remain much as she left them. There are still remains of a chapel of Holyrood Abbey, and till lately its sanctuary for insolvent debtors extended for a considerable distance around. The church of St. Giles is ancient, and has an imposing appearance. By the Parliament House is the Advocate's Library, which has the privilege of being entitled to a copy of every book published in Great Britain. There are also a National Gallery, a National Portrait Gallery, a Royal Institution, the University buildings, the Tron Church, the Royal Observatory, upon Calton Hill, and a large' infirmary. The imposing monument erected to Scott is in Princes Street, and there is a monument to Burns, besides many other statues and memorials. Among charitable institutions are Heriot's and other hospitals. Among schools, the Edinburgh Academy, the High School, and Fettes College are noted. The University, which was founded by James VI. in 1582, has all the privileges of the elder universities. The corporation consists of a chancellor (elected for life), rector (elected for three years), professors, graduates, and matriculated students. Beside the ordinary four faculties, there are also degrees in science. The University possesses good buildings arid appliances for study, including dissectingrpoms, botanic garden, museum, and an extensive library. The University unites with that of St. Andrew to return one member to Parliament.

Edinburgh did not become the royal residence and capital till 1437, although a parliament had been held there as early as 1215. In 1296 Edward I. took the Castle, in 1650 it yielded to Cromwell, and in 1689 to William III. In 1745 Prince Charles Edward was received. Leith is the post, and almost a suburb of Edinburgh.