HISTORICAL INCIDENTS AFTER THE RESTORA TION. 113
ment, and confiscation to many of the most active leaders in the movement, and a general
persecution of ‘( Papists, Jacobites, Episcopals, and disaffected persons.” Archibald Stewart,
the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, was regarded with peculiar jealousy, on account of the
city having fallen into the hands of the Highland army, without resistance, or any attempt
at defence. He endured a long and severe trial, in which it was shown that the great
extent, and very dilapidated condition of the walls, as well as the manifest lukewarmness of
a large portion of the inhabitants towards the reigning family, rendered the defence of the
town, for any length of time, against a victorious army, quite impossible. The trial lasted
from the 27th of October till the 2d of November, when the Provost was acquitted by a
unanimous verdict of the jury. This was regarded as a triumph by the Jacobite party, and
a public meeting was summoned to assemble on the following evening in the Baxter’s
Hall; but the magistrates took alarm at the proposal, and the meeting was summarily
interdicted, as calculated to destroy the prestige of the triumphant bonfire so recently
kindled at the Cross.
The house of Provost Stewart was a very curious old building in the West Bow, with
its main entrance at the foot of Donaldson’s Close. It was only one story high, in
addition to the attics, on the north side, while on the south it presented a lofty front
to the Bow. This building stood immediately to the west of Free St John’s Church;
it is described by Chambers1 as being of singular construction, and as full of curious little
rooms, concealed closets, and secret stairs, as any house that ever had the honour of being
haunted. The north wall, which still remains built into the range of shops forming the
new terrace, stood long exposed to view, affording abundant evidence of this. Little
closets and recesses are excavated, almost like a honey-comb, out of the solid rock behind,
many of which, however, have been built up in adapting it to its new purpose. ((In
one of the rooms,” says Chambers, “there was a little cabinet about three feet high,
which any one, not acquainted with the mysterious arcana of ancient houses, would suppose
to be a cupboard. Nevertheless, under this modest, simple, and unassuming disguise,
was concealed a thing of no less importance and interest than a trap ~ t a i r . ” ~ This
ingeniously-contrived passage communicated behihd with the West Bow, and, according
to the same authority, it was said to have afforded, on one occasion, a aafe and unsuspected
exit to Prince Charles and Borne of his principal officers, who were enjoying the hospitality
of the Jacobitical Provost, when an alarm was given that a troop of the enemy, from
the Castle, were coming down the Close to seize them. This curious building derives an
additional interest from its last occupant, James Donaldson, the wealthy printer, from
whose bequest the magnificent hospital that bears his name has been erected at the west
end of the town.
Our historical sketch of the ancient capital of Scotland has mainly embraced the period
during which the Stuart race filled the throne, and made it the arena of many of the most
prominent incidents in the‘ir history; and with this closing scene in the narrative of their
illustrious line, our historic Memorials of the Olden Time may fitly end. The asaociations
with which the local antiquites of Edinburgh still abound, will afford a fitting opportunity
for treating of incidents and characters of a later date, that are worthy of our notice,
Chambera’a Traditions, vol. i. p. 143. . Ibid, voL i p. 144.
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