DALKEITH.- — HORTICULTURE. 85 



Dr. Smollet has well observed, that in every part of Scotland which he had 

 seen, there was an incredible number of noble houses. Dalkeith, Pinkie, 

 Yester, and Lord Hop ton's — " all of them witliin a few miles of Edinburgh, 

 are princely palaces, in any one of which a sovereign might reside at his ease." 

 Since that time the number has greatly increased ; and although of less spacious 

 and imposing aixhitecture than those named, the modern edifices display a 

 minute attention to comfort and elegance, with an almost inviolable observance 

 of the rules of architecture and good taste. Wliat is particularly deserving 

 of notice is, the great improvement which has recently taken place in the 

 arrangement of park and pleasure grounds, and the profusion of exotics which 

 are now successfully introduced into the lawn as well as the gardens and green- 

 houses. Plants that, fifty years ago, were supposed incapable of undergoing 

 the rigour of a Scottish winter, are fully acclimated, and found to flourish as in 

 their native soil. Great and increasing attention is given to the botanical 

 department in these villa residences. Flower gardens and greenhouses, enriched 

 with many names to which the last generation were strangers,* prove how far 

 in aU these, as in the human mind, education and habit may overcome natural 

 temper and prejudice, and extract the most beautiful product from the most 

 unpromising soil. 



The town of Dalkeith, beautifully situated at the confluence of the North 

 and South Esk, is well built, and, in point of commercial activity, population, 

 and extent, may be considered as holding the third rank in the county. It is 

 celebrated for its weekly markets, and is the chief emporium of this wide and 

 fertile district. Manufactures have not hitherto become a source of industry, 

 but retail shops of evei-y description are numerous, and a spirit of enterprise 

 and its happy fruits every where apparent. Among its buildings of a public 

 nature, the church— in ancient times the castle chapel, and in 1406, collegiate, 

 but now ruinous— is the only surviving monument of interest in the to\vn — 

 and that chiefly from its containing the " cofiined chiefs" of the Buccleugh 

 family. Its position in the middle of the town, with its waUed burial 

 ground, still serves as a chronicler of the past, and an impressive monitor 

 of the present.-]- The pubhc school of Dalkeith has been long and justly 



• Professoi* Dunbar, with infinite taste and industry, has made a collection of heaths — the most exten- 

 sive, perhaps, in Europe — and with many other rare plants and flowers, accumulated during a series of years 

 and experiments, has so embellished his villa near Edinburgh as to render it an object of especial curiosity, 



t A prosperous Dalkeith merchant, says Mr. Chambers, having for many years excited the envy of his 

 neighbours by his rapid purchases of property, till, at length, he had made almost the half of the street his 

 own, died just as he had acquired the house adjoining the burial-ground ; whereupon it was wittily remarked, 

 " that there was no getting beyond the grave !" 



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