APPENDIX. 427
1742.-Of this date is Edgar’s map of Edinburgh, engraved for Maitland’s History of Edinburgh. It was
drawn by W illiam Edgar, architect, for the purpose of being published on a much larger scale ; but he died before
this could be accomplished, when it was fortunately engraved by Maithnd, on a scale sdiciently large for reference
to most of its details. It is of p a t value a an accurate and trustworthy ground-plan of the city almost
immediately before the schemes of civic reform began to modify ita ancient features. A very useful companion
to this is a large map, “ including all the latest improvements,” and dedicated to Provost Elder in 1793. It contains
a very complete reference to all the closes and wynda in the Old Town, many of which have since disappeared,
while alterations in the names of those that remain add to the value of this record of their former nomenclature.
1753.-A s mall folio plate of Edinburgh from the north-west, bearing this date, is engraved from a drawing
by Paul Sandby. It appears to have been taken from about the site of Charlotte Square, though- the town ie
represented at a greater distance. Ita chief value arises from the idea it gives of the site of the New Town, consisting,
on the west side of the Castle, where the Lothian Road has since been made, of formal rows of treee, and
beyond them a great extent of ground mostly bare and unenclosed. Old St Cuthbert’s Church is seen at the
foot of the Castle rock, with a square central tower surmounted by a low spira
In 1816 an ingenious old plan of Edinburgh and ita environs wa published by Kirkwood, on a large
scale. He has taken Edgar as his authority for the Old Town; South Leith from a survey by Wood in
1777 ; the intervening ground, including North Leith and the site of the New Town from a survey made in
1759, by John Fergus and Robert Robinson; and the south of Edinburgh, including the whole ground to
the POW Burn, from another made the same year by Jahn Scott. It is further ‘embellished with a reduced
copy of the view of 1580, and a plan of Leith made in 1681. The names of most of the proprietors of ground
are given from the two last surveys, belonging to the town, and the whole forms B tolerably complete and
curious record of the neighbourhood of Edinburgh about the middle of the eighteenth century.
Gough remarks, in his British Topography, with reference to John Clerk, Esq. of Eldin,-whose amateur
performances with the etching needle are coveted by collectors of topographical illustrations, on account of their
rarity, a few impressions only having been printed for private distribution,-“ I am informed he intends to etch
some views of Edinburgh of large size, having made some very accurate drawings for that purpose.’’ Two of
these, at 1 east, have been etched on narrow plates, about fifteen inches long. One of them, aLview from the north,
has Lochend and Logan of Restalrig’s old tower in the foreground ; with the initials J. C., and the date 1774
The other is from the head of the Links, with Wrychtishousis’ mansion in the foreground. They are not, however,
so accurate as Qough-or more probably his Scottish authority, Mr George Paton-had anticipated
To thia list we may add a south view of Edinburgh 1 y Hollar, on two sheets. We have never seen a copy of
it, nor met with any person who has seen more than one of the sheets, now at Cambridge. It is very rare, has
no date, and is perhaps, after all, only a copy of Qordon’s bird’s-eye view. Gough mentions an ancient drawing
of Edinburgh preserved in the Charter Room of Heriot’s Hospital, but no such thing is now known to exist,
although the careful researches of Dr Steven, in the preparation of his History of the Hospital, could hardly have
failed to discover it, had it still remained there.
Of modern views the best is that drawn by W. H. Williams, or a he is more frequently styled, Grecian
Williams, and engraved on a large scale, with great ability and taste, by William Miller. It is taken from the
top of Arthur’s Seat, so that it partakes of the character of a bird’seye view, with all the beauty of correct perspective
and fine pictofical effect.
A rare and interesting print published in 1751, engraved from a drawing by Paul Sandby, preserves a view
of Leith at that period. It ia taken from the old east road, and, owing to the nature of the ground, and the site
of the town being chiefly a declivity towards the river, little more is seen than the nearest rows of houses and
the steeple of St Mary‘s Church. The rural character of the neighbouring downa, however, is curious, a well
as a singular looking old-fashioned carriage, which forms one of the moat prominent objects in the view.
