TOWN AND HARBOUR OF LEITH. 



121 



done for the embellishment of a spot which a few individuals of taste and 

 affluence might convert into a second " Capri." Being a point from which the 

 adjacent coasts and capital are seen to the greatest advantage, it is a favourite 

 resort for water-parties during the summer months. The most prominent 

 feature on the island is the hghthouse, vidth revolving lamps, a structure 

 which has proved of incalculable benefit to the safe navigation of the Frith. 

 Inchkeith was selected by James IV. for an experiment which serves to 

 illustrate the excessive credulity and superstition of that age. In order to 

 discover the primitive language of the human race and the first formation of 

 speech, he caused two children to be shut up with a dumb attendant in this 

 island, where it was believed that, on arriving at maturity, they communicated 

 their ideas in pure Hebrew — the language of Paradise. 



The town and harbour of Leith* have largely participated in the improvements 

 which, during the last twenty years, have made such progress in the capital and 

 its vicinity. Several new streets and densely peopled suburbs afford pleasing 

 evidence of the good taste and commercial activity by which the port of Edin- 

 burgh is so happily distinguished. The great increase of trade having called 

 for numerous and important changes, most of them have been promptly carried 

 into eftect. New wet-docks have been excavated on a magnificent scale, and the 

 ancient port rendered more commodious and accessible. The dense forest of 

 masts, displaying the colours of every commercial nation, from the white cross 

 of Denmark to the crescent of the east, speaks well for the extent of trade. 

 Ships of war in the offing, the constant arrival and departure of steamers, with 

 the bustle of landing and embarkation, give a vivacity to the picture which is 

 not to be met with in any other port of the empire. The Pier of Leith, 

 carried to a considerable distance into the sea, offers a delightful promenade; 

 and, while it affords the citizen all the benefit of fresh sea-breezes, foi-ms 

 also a fine belvidera fl-om which he may enjoy the magnificent scenery of 

 the Frith, such as it appeared in all its richest development— 



" When Mary turned her wondering eyes on rocks that seemed to prop the skies, 

 On palace, park, and battled pile ; on lake, on river, sea, and isle ; 

 OV-r woods and meadows bathed in dew, to distant mountains wild and blue. 

 And thought the isle that gave her birth the sweetest, wildest, land on earth !" 



• The harbour of Leith was granted by Robert I. to the community of Edinburgh in 1320. About the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, Mary of Guise, in her zeal to check the progress of reformation, intro- 

 duced subsidiary troops from France, and fortified the north side of the harbour for their reception. This 

 fortification, having fallen into the hands of the lords of the congregation in 1560, was razed to the ground. 

 On its site Cromwell afterwards built a citadel— for some lime his head quarters, and which, when in a 



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