Town, it will be our duty to direct the reader's attention to the Engravings which constitute the illustrations of the present work, and to furnish such topographical and descriptive particulars of the scenes and objects delineated, as may enable him to understand the history and architectural characteristics of all the edifices. It is intended, in the first place, to allude to the exterior and distant prospects of Edinburgh, with its scenic features: secondly, to elucidate the closer views, or interior of the streets, in which several objects are shewn in unison with each other: and, thirdly, to give a more detailed and critical account of those buildings which are singly represented, or delineated in a more close detail. This mode of treating the subjects, it is hoped, will render the accounts and engravings mutually illustrative of each other, and thus make language and graphic embellishment the handmaids to history and topography.

The following lines on Edinburgh, by Mr. Bisset, of Leamington, parodied from others in the New Monthly Magazine, cannot fail to gratify some of our Scottish readers :

'Tis unco wonderfu to think
How Biggins rare hae ran

A nor the Mound, since this Nineteenth

Its Cent'ry race began;

O' Crescents, Squares, an bonnie Courts,

Wi' Kirks an Public Places,

For ilka kind o' Worship meet

The New Town's self embraces :

Within its circuit o' wide streets,

Thrice Fifty at the least,

Wi' Halls, Assembly Rooms, an Schools,

An Institutions grac'd.

Besides a hantle o' staunch Banks,

A Thousand Shops (an mair),

Wad mak e'en Paris Beaux an Belles,

Nay! Bond-street Loungers stare.

"Tis said, "These Streets sae lately form'd,

Gif stretch'd at length wad gae,

For Saxteen Miles t'wards Linlithgow,
Direct frae comely Brae."-

H

PART OF THE NEW TOWN, FROM THE NORTH WEST,

EDINBURGH

EDINBURGH

Jones & C° Temple of the Muses Finsbury Square London. Jan 23, 1830

Engraved by J. Ralph

25

EDINBURGH.

ACCOUNT OF THE PICTURESQUE FEATURES OF EDINBURGH AND ITS ENVIRONS, AS DISPLAYED IN THE ACCOMPAnying EngravinGS; ALSO OF ITS STREET-SCENERY, AND THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDIFICES WITH WHICH IT IS ADORNED.

THERE is not, perhaps, a city in Europe that offers to the lover of picturesque scenery, and to the historian, a more interesting series of subjects for the pencil and pen than Edinburgh. It is not surprising, therefore, that it has attracted the attention of the artist and the author in an eminent degree: and that, besides many separate prints which have been published, illustrative of its general features, and of particular scenes, several embellished works have been produced on the subject. The field still appears so fertile, and offers such a succession of crops, that new labourers approach it, and seek profit, or fame, by trying fresh experiments. They calculate on remuneration for their labours and skill, either by better or cheaper productions, or in the union of the two. On the latter basis, the proprietors of the present publication rest their claims; persuaded, that if they succeed in rendering it moderate in price, and respectable in execution, a liberal patronage will be the result.

The accompanying series of Engravings, with the corresponding descriptions, will be so arranged and connected as to impart to the stranger the clearest information of the peculiarities and characteristics of the Old and New Town of Edinburgh, and of the Scenery by which it is surrounded. As the prints are not numbered, we have adopted the same title for the heading of every article, or distinct subject, as is engraved on the plate beneath each respective view.