102 OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH. [Coltbridge;.
from Inverleith Row, and a third from the narrow
lane leading to East Warriston House. In the
grounds are spacious catacombs, above which
is a balustraded terrace with a tastefvl little
mortuary chapel; and there are many elegant
monuments. The chief, though the simplest of
these, is the stone which mqks the spot where,
on.the slope of the terrace, lie, with those of some
of his family, the remains of Sir James Young
Simpson, Bart., recalling the sweet lines which were
among the last things he wrote :-
?? Oft in this world?s ceaseless strife,
When flesh and spirit fail me,
I stop and think of another life,
Where ills can never assail me.
Where my weaned arm shall cease its fight,
My heart shall cease its sorrow ;
And this dark night change for the light
? Of an everlasting morrow.?
Near this grave a little Greek temple (designed
by his grandson John Dick Peddie, M.P.) marks
the last resting-place of the venerable Rev. James
. Peddie, who was so long minister of the Bristo
Street Church. Near the eastern gate, under a cross,
lie the remains of Alexander Smith, author of the
*? Life Drama,? and other poems, which attracted
much attention at the time of their publication.
?It claims special notice,? says a writer in the
Scofsmaa, ?as one of the most artistic and appropriate
works of the kind to be seen in our cemeteries.
It is in the form of an Iona or West High-.
land cross of Binney stone, twelve feet in height, set
in a massive square base four feet high. In the centre.
of the shaft is a bronze medallion of the poet, by
William Brodie, R.S.A., an excellent work of art,
and a striking likeness, above which is the inscription
? Alexander Smith, poet and essayist,?
and below are the places and dates of his birth
and death. The upper part of the shaft and the.
cross itself are elaborately carved in a style of?
ornament which, though novel in design, is strictly
characteristic. For the design of this very striking
and beautiful monument the friends of the poet
are indebted to Mr. James Drummond, R.S.k-a
labour of love, in which artistic skill and antiquarian
knowledge have combined to the production of a
work, which, of its own kind is quite unique, and
commands the admiration of the least instructed?
In another part of the ground is an elegant
reproduction of the ?Maclean Cross? of Iona,
erected by a member of the family. The grave of?
Horatio Macculloch, R.S.A., the well-known landscape
painter, is also here, and also that of the Rev.
James Millar, a good, worthy, and pious man, well
known to the whole British army, and remarkable
as being the last Presbyterian chaplain of the Castle
of Edinburgh, who died in 1875, in about the.
thirtieth year of his ministry, and was interred herewith
military honours.
~
CHAPTER X.
THE WESTERN NEW TOWN.
Coltbridge-Rosebum House-Traditions of it--Murrayiield-Lord Henderland-Beechwood-General Leslie-The Dundase-RaveIstm-
The Foulises and Keiths-Craigmk-Its first ProprietorSA Fearful Tragedy-Archibald Constable-Lard Jeffrey-Davidson?s Mains-
Lauriston Castle.
COLTBRIDGE, once a little secluded hamlet qn the
Water of Leith, having two bridges, an old one and
a new one, is now a portion of the western New
Town, but is only famoys as the scene of the
amazing panic exhibited in 1745, by Sir John
Cope?s cavalry, under Brigadier Fowke-the 13th
and 14th Dragoons-who fled in great disorder,
on seeing a few Highland gentlemen-said to be
only seven in number-approach them, mounted,
and firing their pistols, while the little force of
Prince Charles Edward was marching along the old
Glasgow road.
Passing the huge edifices called the Roseburn
Maltings, belonging to the Messrs. Jeffrey, distillers,
consisting of two floors 600 feet in length by 120
in width, for storing ale, a narrow winding path
I leads to the ancient house of Roseburn and theold
Dalry flour mills which now adjoin it.
Small, quaint, and very massively built, with
crowstepped gables and great chimneys, it exhibitsmarks
of very great antiquity, and yet all the history
it possesses is purely traditional. It has two.
door lintels, one of which is the most elaborate
ever seen in Edinburgh, but it has been broken, and
in several places is quite illegible. In the centre
is a shield with the royal arms of Scotland and the:
motto IN DEFENS. There are two other shields,
now defaced; and two tablets, one inscribed thus :-
QVEN. VOU.
VIL. ENTER
AT. CRIST
IS. DVRE
1562.
