222 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
with which he watched over and soothed the decline of a venerable mother (who
died not above four years ago) afforded a convincing proof. The variety of his
knowledge, the cheerfulness of his disposition, the unaffectedness of his character,
and even the occasional touch of eccentricity in his manners-all contributed to
make him as amusing and agreeable an associate as we ever encountered at the
convivial board.”-Literary Gazette, 12th July 1834.
In Dr. Watt’s Bibliotheea Britannicn, the record of Mr. Rylance’s avowed
works, previous to 1824, is limited to-“ A tribute to the Memory of William
Pitt,” 8v0, 1806; “Sketches of the Causes and Consequences of the late
Emigration to the Brazils,” 8v0, 1808 j and “ A Vocabulary of English Words,
chiefly derived from the Saxon, with their Signification in Spanish,”-to which
is added, “ A short English Grammar for Spaniards,” SYO, 1813.
NO. xcm.
LEVELLING OF THE HIGH STREET
OF EDINBURGH.
THE idea of levelling the High Street was entertained so far back as 1785 ; and
the ‘I contest” which ensued is a matter of some notoriety in the civic history of
the Scottish capital. The projected improvement was one of considerable
importance, as it contemplated the reduction of a very inconvenient and somewhat
dangerous rise in the centre of the street, which greatly incommoded the
communication by the north and south approaches. Under the patronage of
Sir James Hunter Blair, then Lord Provost, the undertaking was acceded to by
a majority of the Town Council, and an advertisement issued in consequence,
stating that a contractor was wanted “ to level the High Street, and to dig and
carry away from it about 6000 cubic yards of earth.” This advertisement was
generally understood to mean simply the reduction of the “ crown 0’ the causey”
to a level with the sides ; but, when the operation commenced, it was discovered
that the plan was much more extensive, and that, in following it out, some parts
of the street would require to be lowered more than five feet. The proprietors
of houses and shops became alarmed. Meetings were called, and a serious and
formidable opposition to the measure was organised. A bill of suspension and
interdict (somewhat analogous to an injunction in England) was presented ; and
subsequently, on the 8th October, an interlocutor was pronounced, appointing a
condescendence (or specification of facts) to be given in, showing in what manner
the adjacent houses, vaults, etc., would be affected by the proposed alterations.
Reports were then lodged by Messrs. Brown and Kay on the part of the Town
Council ; and by Messrs. Young and Salisbury, on that of the proprietors. The
bill of suspension was passed.
