376 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
nucleus of one of the very latest foundations of a monastic institution in Scotland prior to
the Reformation ; but we leave the history of the ancient religious and benevolent foundations
of this locality for the next chapter. During the present century, it was destined for
a very different purpose. When the Union Canal was first projected, its plans included the
continuation of it through the bed of the North Loch, where the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway now runs. From thence it was proposed to conduct it to Greenside, in the area
of which an immense harbour was to have been constructed ; and this again being connected
by a broad canaI with the sea, it was expected that by such means the New Town
would be converted into a seaport, and the unhappy traders of Leith compelled either to
abandon their traffic, or remove within the precincts of their jealous rivals; Chimerical as
.this project may now appear, designs were furnished by experienced engineers, a map of
the whole plan was engraved on a large scale, and no doubt our civic reformers rejoiced in
the anticipation of surmounting the disadvantages of an inland position, and seeing the
shipping of the chief ports of Europe crowding into the heart of their uew capital I
OE the memorials of the New Town, properly so called, very few fall legitimately within
the plan of this work; yet even its modern streets possess some interesting associations that
we would not willingly forego. We have already referred to the house which forms the
junction with St Andrew Square and St David Street, as the last residence of the celebrated
philosopher and historian, David Hume ; where that strange death-bed scene
occurred which has been the subject of such varied comments both by the eulogists and
detractors of the great sceptic. Directly opposite to Hume’s house, on the north side of
the square, is the house in which Henry Brougham was born. At that period St Andrew
Square contained the residences of several noblemen, and was deemed the most fashionable
quarter of the rising’ town. The house on the same side at the corner of St Andrew
Street was the mansion of David Steuart, Earl of Buchan, and possesses some claim to our
interest as the place where the Society of Scottish Antiquaries was instituted in 1780, and
where its earliest meetings were held.’ Within the fist eastern division of George Street,
the eye of the modern visitor is attracted by the lofty and magnificent portico of the
Commercial Bank, a building that seems destined to attest for ages the skill and taste, if
not the inventive genius, of our native architects; yet it occupies the site of the
Physicians’ Hall, a chaste Grecian edifice designed by Craig, the foundation-stone of which
was laid by the celebrated Dr Cullen, in 1774, doubtless with the belief that remote ages
might bring to light the memorials which were then buried in its foundations. Nor must
we omit to notice the favourite dwelhg of Sir Walter Scott in North Castle Street- ‘‘ TAe ckar tAirty-nine,” which he left under such mournful circumstances in 1826. The
New Town of Edinburgh has already many such associations with names eminent in
literature and science, some of which, at least, will command the interest of other generations.
Our Me~norials, however, are of the olden time, and ye leave future chroniclers to
record those of the modern city.
Paton’e Correspondence, pp. 170-172.
