-198 OLD .4ND NEW EDINBURGH. [Leith.
park and ample stabling; and there are always
two batteries, with guns and horses, stationed there
now.
Here, on the 6th October, 1781, trial was made
of a Ioo-pounder carronade, which in those dayswhen
Woolwich ? infants ?? were unknown-excited
the greatest wonder; and on this occasion there
-were present the Duke of Buccleuch, the Right
Hon. Henry Dundas, Lord Advocate, and Captain
John Fergusson, R. N., who died an admiral,
In the same year, the fleet of Admiral Sir Peter
Parker, consisting of fifteen sail of the line and
many frigates, the Jamaica squadron, and a convoy
of 600 merchantmeii, lay for two months in Leith
Roads, having on board more than zo,ooo seamen
and marines ; and so admirably were the markets
of the town supplied, that it is noteworthy this addition
to the population did not raise the prices
one farthing.
Five years subsequently Commodore the Hon.
John Leveson Cower?s squadron anchored in the
Roads in July. Among the vessels under his command
was the Helm frigate of forty guns, commanded
by Captain Keppel, and the third lieutenant
of which was the young Prince William Henry, the
future William IV. The squadron was then on a
cruise to the Orkneys and Hebrides.
In I 788 a paddle-ship of remarkable constmction,
planned by Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, an2
called the Experiment (the forerunner of the steamboat),
was launched from the yard of Messrs. Allan
and Stewart, ship-builders, at Leith. In the Edinburgh
Magazine she is described as being a species
.of double ship, built something like the South Sea
prahs, but larger, being ninety feet long, with other
dimensions in proportion. She was provided with
wheels for working in calm weather.
?She
-.went out of the harbour about mid-day, and was at
-first moved along by the wheels with considerable
-velocity. When she got a little without the pierhead,
they hoisted their stay-sails and square-sails,
.and stood to the westward; but, her masts and
:sails being disproportionate to the weight of the
She made her trial trip in September.
hull, she did not go through the water so fast as was
expected.?
Another feature that impeded lier progress considerably
was a netting across her bows for the
purpose of preventing loose wreck getting foul of
the wheels, and the steering machine, between the
two rudders, was found to be of little use. When
these were removed her speed increased. Those
who managed this peculiar craft went half-way over
the Firth, and then tacked, but, as the ebb-tide was
coming down and the wind increasing, they anchored
in the Roads.
Weighing with the next flood, notwithstanding
that the wind blew right out of the harbour, by
means of their wheels and stay-sails they got in
and moored her at eleven at night. A number of
gentlemen conversant with nautical matters accompanied
her in boats. Among others were Sir John
Clerk of Penicuik, and Captain Inglis of Redhall,
afterwards one of Nelson?s officers.
In the same month and year the drawbridge of
Leith was founded. The stone was laid by Lord
Haddo, in the absence of Lord Elcho, Grand Master
of Scotland, accompanied by the magistrates of
Edinburgh and the Port, who, with the lodges and
military, marched in procession from the Assembly
Rooms in Leith. The usual coins and plate of
silver were placed in the base of the east pier.
?The drawbridge,? says a print of the time, ?will
be of great benefit to the trade of Leith, as any
number of ships will be able to lie in safety, which
in storms and floods they could not do before when
the harbour was crowded.?
In 1795 was established the corps of Royal Leith
Volunteers, who received their colours on the
Links on the 26th of September. A detachment of
the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers kept the ground
The colours were presented by the Lord Lieutenant
to Captain Bruce, of the corps, brother to Bruce of
Kennet ; and in 1797 120 ship-captains of Leith
-to their honour be it recorded in that time of
European war and turmoil-made a voluntary offer
to serve the country in any naval capacity that was
siitable to their position.
