and it is particularly commanded by an act of the Scottish parliament, in 1426, that the merchants returning from abroad should bring with them harness, (armour,) arms, &c.

Notwithstanding this increasing intercourse with distant countries, the Edinburghers were apparently much inferior to the English in their manufactures; for we find that, in 1430, King James the First, of Scotland, employed two citizens of London, to ship, for his own use, twenty tuns of wine, twelve bows, four dozen yards of cloth of different colours, and twelve yards of scarlet, twenty yards of red worsted, eight dozen pewter vessels, twelve hundred wooden cups, some saddles, portmanteaus, and many other inferior articles. In succeeding years, various statutes were enacted, forbidding any person to convey money out of the kingdom, and compelling every merchant to render to the King's Mint, at Edinburgh, a certain quantity of bullion for all goods exported. We learn that, in 1437, these exports consisted chiefly of wool, wool-fells, and hides: and that the imports were mercery, haberdashery, and various other articles for domestic uses. In 1485, the merchants of Edinburgh, jealous of the increasing prosperity of the inhabitants of Leith, (who were more advantageously situated for the purposes of commerce than themselves,) passed an act, forbidding any tradesman of the former town to enter into partnership with an inhabitant of Leith, under a penalty of 40s. Scots, and the loss of freedom, for one year. Three years previously, the merchants of Edinburgh agreed to repay to Edward the Fourth, of England, the sums which had been advanced by him to James the Second, on account of the intended marriage between their infant children : this circumstance, probably, induced the contemporary historian of Croyland to call Edinburgh an opulent town.

From this time Edinburgh continued to improve with a slow and gradual progress; and, on the annexation of Berwick to England, its suburb, Leith, became the chief port of Scotland. After the battle of Pinkie, in September, 1549, the English found in the harbour thirteen ships, and such a quantity of wine that it could not be conveyed away. The accession of James the Sixth to the throne of England in 1603, was highly detrimental to the commercial interests of Edinburgh; as it occasioned the removal of the court, nobility, and gentry, and consequently a smaller expenditure of money, and a decreased demand for necessaries. In 1656, Leith possessed three vessels, of two hundred and fifty tons, and eleven, of twenty tons; but the incorporation of the Merchant's Company, in 1681, added considerably to the number; and these have been again much increased, by the augmentation of trade occasioned by the Union in 1707, previous to which, England exercised the most mischievous influence over the traffic and industry of Scotland. By prohibitory laws, she excluded the produce of that country; and by the worst artifices, she checked the footing which the Scotch were anxious to take, whether in their commercial intercourse with foreign powers, or in their colonial enterprises."

The manufactures of Edinburgh and Leith are remarkable for their variety. The inhabitants are extensively engaged in the distillation of spirituous liquors; in the weaving of linen, kerseymeres, and shawls; in the printing of calico and cloth; and in

dery thereon, nor lace, except a plain lace of silk on the seams and edges, with embroidered belts and hat-bands: and the same to be cut out on a single taffeta only. Foreign damasks, table-linen, cambrics, lawns, and tiffanies, were restricted to the persons above-mentioned, as were also, pearls and precious stones. The number of mourning suits in great families was limited, and alteration in the fashion of clothes was forbidden. Husbandmen and labourers were to dress in gray, blue, white, and self-black cloth, of Scottish make: and neither wet or dry confections were to be used at weddings, christenings, or feasts, unless of fruits indigenous to Scotland.

Towards the beginning of the seventeenth century fraudulent bankruptcies were so common, that the Court of Session ordered the magistrates of the city to erect a stone pillory near the Market Cross, with a seat on the top of it, on which were to be placed, "all dyvours (insolvent debtors) quha sall sit thereon ane mercat-day, from ten houres in the morning, quill ane hour after dinner." Night robberies and riots were also of frequent occurrence. The appearance of the houses was so mean, that in 1621 it was enacted, by Parliament, that they should in future be covered with tiles, slate, or lead, instead of thatch or boards. In 1637, the ladies of Edinburgh gave great offence to the magistrates by wearing plaids; and an act was passed for abolishing this practice. In 1660 was licensed the first stage coach between Edinburgh and Leith, and in the same year it was provided, that all houses be thenceforth erected of stone, instead of wood, which had been previously used. In the time of James the Seventh persons were not allowed to appear in the streets during divine service, dancing was not permitted, and various absurd punishments for fornication were inflicted. It was not uncommon for persons to be prosecuted on suspicion of witchcraft, and ten women were actually burnt for that offence, in 1678. The commencement of the eighteenth century is memorable for the Union between the two kingdoms, an event which effected an entire change in the manners and habits of the citizens of Edinburgh; the increase of traffic brought with it additional wealth, and wealth its usual concomitants, luxury and profusion; music, dancing, and theatrical amusements, were soon introduced, spacious houses were erected, and every exertion was made to improve the city.

The following summary, or Statistical View of Edinburgh, appeared in a respectable paper in 1829:—“Population, including Leith, 170,000—1 royal palace-1 college-31 professors -1 riding school-1 military academy-700 teachers in all branches of education1 royal exchange-70 churches-2 theatres-13 courts of justice-400 advocates-800 writers to the signet and solicitors, &c.-86 accountants-40 physicians-70 surgeons100 apothecaries-7 libraries-11 newspapers-42 newsmen and companies and agencies, (34 of these are English)-11 public hospitals60 charitable institutions-25 literary societies-80_royal mail and stage coaches-86 hackney coaches400 carriers -80 public offices-850 streets, squares, lanes, &c.—and 5 bridges."-Scotsman.

Having pointed out the leading historical events belonging to Edinburgh generally, and noticed some facts appertaining to the public institutions and buildings of the Old and New