Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

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 « 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 Plates Ch 20: Leith - Historical Survey (continued) Ch 21: Leith - Historical Survey (continued) Ch 22: Leith - Historical Survey (concluded) Ch 23: Leith - The Kirkgate Ch 24: Leith - The Kirkgate (concluded) Ch 25: Leith - Tolbooth Wynd and Adjoining Streets Ch 26: Leith - Rotten Row, Broad Wynd, Bernard Street, Baltic Street, and Quality Street Ch 27: Leith - Constitution Street, The Shore, Coal Hill, and Sheriff Brae Ch 28: North Leith Ch 29: Leith - The Links Ch 30: Leith - The Sands Ch 31: Leith - The Harbour Ch 32: Memorabilia of the Shipping of Leith and its Maritime Affairs Ch 33: Leith - The Docks Ch 34: Inchkeith Ch 35: Newhaven Ch 36: Wardie, Trinity, and Granton Ch 37: The Environs of Edinburgh Ch 38: The Environs of Edinburgh (continued) Ch 39: The Environs of Edinburgh (continued) Ch 40: The Environs of Edinburgh (continued) Ch 41: The Environs of Edinburgh (continued) Ch 42: The Environs of Edinburgh (continued) Ch 43: The Environs of Edinburgh (concluded) General Index Contents List of Illustrations

Leith.: PAUL pinnaces were hourly expected ; but, thanks to the west wind, Leith was saved. ? We continued working to windward of the Firth,? says Jones, in his narrative, ? without being able to reach the Roads of Leith till the morning of the 17th, when being almost within cannon shot of the town, and having everything in readiness for the descent, a very severe gale of wind came on, and obliged us to bear away after having endeavoured for some time to withstand its violence. The gale was so severe that one of the prizes taken on the 14th (the Rn>ndsh!ip of Kirkcaldy) was sunk to the bottom, the crew being with difficulty saved. AS the clamour by this time reached Leith by JONES. 197 It was evident that the age of miracles was not past at that time, as it was openly asserted that Mr. Sheriff, the secession minister of Kirkcaldy, by his prayers, ? assisted, with God?s help, in raising the wind ?? (? Life of Paul Jones,? by the Registrar of the U. S. Navy, &c., &c.). Attention having thus been drawn to the defenceless state of the town, a battery-now rendered utterly useless by encroaching houses and dockswas built to the eastward of Bathfield. Originally it was only a rampart armed with nine guns facing the water, as a protection during the American War; but in later years the works were added to: spacious artillery barracks were built, with a with the aid of handspikes, were conveyed across the old bridge to North Leith and posted on a portion of the citadel, forming a battery that might have proved exceedingly perilous to those who worked it. A few brass field pieces, manned by artillerymen, were posted farther westward, and arms were supplied to the incorporated trades from Edinburgh. All eyes were now turned on the enemy?s ships, from which the manned boats and means of a cutter that had watched our m6tions that morning, and as the wind continued contrary (though more moderate in the evening), I thought it impossible to pursue the enterprise with a good prospect of success, especially as Edinburgh, where there is always a number of troops, is only a mile distant from Leith, therefore I gave up my project? He bore away, and soon after fought his victorious battlc off Flaniborough Head. --U PAUL JONES.

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