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Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time

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THE LA WNMARKET. I81 On the west side of the County Hall there still exists a part of the “ transs ” of Libberton’s Wynd, but all other remains have been swept away by the same “ improvement‘ mania,” whose work we have already recorded in the neighbouring closes. This wynd formed, at one period, one of the principal thoroughfares for pedestrians from the fashionable district of the Cowgate to the “ High Town.” Its features did not greatly differ from those of many other of the old closes, with its substantial stone mansions eked out here and there by irregular timber projections, until the narrow stripe of sky overhead had well-nigh been blotted out by their overhanging gab1es.l The most interesting feature in the wynd was Johnie Dowie’s Tavern, already alluded to,-the Mermaid Tavern of Edinburgh during the last century,-whither the chief wits and men of letters were wont to resort, in accordance with the habits of society at that period. Here Ferguson the poet, David Herd, one of the earliest collectors of Scottish songs, “ antiquarian Paton,” with others of greater note in their own day than now,-lords of session, and leading advocates, inhabitants of the neighbouring fashionable district,-were wont to congregate. Martin, a celebrated portrait painter of the last century, instituted a club here, which was quaintly named after the host, Boway College, and thither his more celebrated pupil, Sir Henry Raeburn, often accompanied him in his younger days. But, above all, this was the favourite resort of Robert Burns, where he spent many jovial hours with Willie Nicol, and Allan Masterton,-the ‘‘ blithe hearts ” of his most popular song,- and with his city friends of all degrees, during his first visit to Edinburgh. On the death of John Dowie (a sober and respected city, who amassed a considerable fortune, and left his only son a Major in the army), the old place of entertainment acquired still greater note under the name of Burns’s Tavern. The narrow room was visited by strangers as the scene of the poet’s most frequent resort; and at the period of its demolition in 1834, it had taken a prominent place among the lions of the Old Town. The house had nothing remarkable about it as a, building, It bore the date of its erection, 1728, and in the ancient titles, belonging to a previous building, it is described as bounded on the south by U the King’s auld wall.” This ancient thoroughfare appears to have retained its original designation, while closes immediately adjoining were receiving new names with accommodating facility on every change of occupants, Libberton’s Wynd is mentioned in a charter granted by James 111. in the year 1477; and in later years its name occurred in nearly every capital sentence of the criminal court, the last permanent place of public execution, after the demolition of the Old Tolbooth, having been at the head of the wynd. The victims of the law’s highest penalty, within the brief period alluded to, offer few attractions to the antiquarian memorialist, unless the pre-eminent infamy of the “ West Port murderers,” Burke and Hare,-the former of whom was executed on this spot-be regarded as establishing their claim to rank among the celebrated characters of Edinburgh. The sockets of “ the fatal tree ” were removed, along with objects of greater interest and d u e , in completing the approach to the new bridge. Carthrae’s, Forrester’s, and Beth’s Wynds, all once stood between Libberton’s Wynd and St Giles’s Church, but every relic of them had been swept awyyears before the latter work of destruction was projected. Forrester’s Wynd waa evidently a place of note in earlier times, and frequent allusions to it occur in some of the older diaries ; e.g., ‘‘ Vpoun A very accurate and characteristic view of this wynd, from the Cowgate, ie given among Geikie’e Etchings.
Volume 10 Page 198
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