Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time

All Books Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time Edinburgh Past and Present Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

Go to: « Kay's Originals Vol. 1 « Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time Cover Title Pages Contents List of Illustrations Preface Part 1: Historical Associations Part 1 Ch 1: Earliest Traditions Part 1 Ch 2: From The Accession of The Stuarts to the Death of James III Part 1 Ch 3: From the Accession of James IV to the Battle of Flodden Part 1 Ch 4: From the Battle of Flodden to the Death of James V Part 1 Ch 5: From the Death of James V to the Abdication of Queen Mary Part 1 Ch 6: From the Accession of James VI to the Restoration of Charles II Part 1 Ch 7: Historical Incidents after the Restoration Part 2: Local Antiquities and Traditions Part 2 Ch 1: The Castle Part 2 Ch 2: King's Stables, Castle Barns, and Castle Hill Part 2 Ch 3: The Lawnmarket Part 2 Ch 4: The Tolbooth, Luckenbooths, and Parliament Close Part 2 Ch 5: The High Street Part 2 Ch 6: The High Street and Nether Bow Part 2 Ch 7: The Canongate and Abbey Sanctuary Part 2 Ch 8: St Leonard's, St Mary's Wynd, and The Cowgate Part 2 Ch 9: The West Bow and Suburbs Part 2 Ch 10: Leith, and The New Town Part 2 Ch 11: Ecclesiastical Antiquities Appendix » Edinburgh Past and Present » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

APPENDIX. 439 trA model of Edinburgh was executed by the late Gavin Hamilton, bookeeIler : it was most accurat& done, with his intended improvements of carrying a street of a gentle ascent from the Grassmarket in a line up to the west end of the Luckenbooths, for which purpose he could shift the repmentation of the home, and lay open his plan to public view. This finished work cost him some yeears’ labour, and was shown in a room of the Royal Infirmary in 1753 and 1754 : but after his .death it was neglected, and destroyed for firewood His proposals, like other commodious, salutary, and beneficial projects for the improvement of the place, were rejected ; as was likewise the scheme of an entry into the High Street of Edinburgh from St Cuthbert’s or West Church, along the hill side by south and west of the Castle, which by a gradual ascent might be completed at no very considerable sum, to facilitate the easier conveyance of carriages from the south and west than by the West Bow, a most inconvenient and steep height for horses with coals and other articles for the citizens’ me ; this might terminate the head of the causeway on the Castle HilL A south entry to the High Street being much wanted for the =me necessary purposes, has been of late proposed, but hitherto rejected also, from an excessof toll all needful carriages would be subjected to, which many of the inhabitants are unable to bear. “Sir John Dalrymple has been at uncommon care and expence in causing to be executed an accnrate survey and plan for an easy access inta the city from the south, by a gentle declivity and ascent from the High Street at the head of Marlin’s Wynd to Nicolson’BPark in a streight line, without any amh.” The following jm d’e8p-d may suffice, like some of the school-rhymed arithmetical and grammatical d e s , days of the month, and the like useful help8 to short memories, to preserve in the reader’s recollection some memento of the strange associations that have already been related in sober prose as pertaining to the old West Bow : the like of which he will in vain seek for in any existing corner either of the Old or New Town. THE WAST BOW. DEDICATETDO THE HON.BO ARDOF COMMISSIONEFROSR C r r ~IM PBOVEMWXTS. Through the auld Wast Bow, and to the Grass-Market, Mony a ane haa gane daun fast an’ erie ; Gentles wi’ htillands fn’ brawly besarkit*- Covenant hauldera 0’ warld’a care fu’ weary,- Doom gaol an’ gallows birds naething has carkit, Fu’ dauntonly fitting it to the Gram-Market. Hurrying doun, stoiterin’ an’ stumhlin’, The gleger ye gang better luck against tumblin’ : Up o’er its crooked an’ dingy suld oausey, Fu’ atately an’ trig in their cleadin’ 0’ braws, Our Jamiea escorted ilk royal Scottish lassie To weddin’ and beddin’ in Holyrood ha’s ; Our pedant, King Jamie, King Charlie the naucy, As’ bauld Noll, rade in state, ilka ane o’er ita caueey, Hurrying doun, 8c. An’ Provost an’ Bailies, fu’ prudely I’se warrant, Ha’e bided for Royalty doun the Wast Bow ; An’ speered at the yet\ whan he cam, fur his errand, An’ keeked round the corner, wi’ face in a IOW ; An’ h o n an’ Guild-Dean, an’ Town-Clerk auld-farand, Pracheging their beat bow id loyale I’M warrant. Hurrying douti, &O .

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