advocates' library. — UNIVERSITY. 99 



Near this is the venerable edifice, the Scottish House of Parliament, externally 

 modernized, but preserving in its interior all the primitive features which 

 characterize its age and destination. Here the Courts of Session, Justiciary, 

 and Exchequer— the three supreme courts of Scotland— hold their sittings. 



Some of the private buildings in this square— the Parliament-Close— are five 

 stories above, and five or six below, the level of the pavement ; and thus, on 

 the side of the Cow-gate, reach the extraordinary elevation of twelve or thirteen 

 stories. This peculiarity arises from the great inequality of the ground on 

 which the houses are built, and which originally must have been as rough 

 in surface as the Tarpeian rock. The fine equestrian statue of Charles II. , in 

 this square, is justly admired, but by what artist is unknown. 



Under the three halls of justice is the Advocates' Library, founded by Sir 

 George Mackenzie, in 1 680. It is exceedingly rich in scarce printed works and 

 manuscripts, in almost every language and department of elegant literature, 

 art, and science, as well as in coins and medals. It belongs, as the name 

 imports, to the celebrated Faculty of Barristers to whom, with the late Sir Walter 

 Scott at their head, the country is indebted for so large a portion of her literary 

 fame. A few steps fi-om this is the Library founded by the Writers to the Signet, 

 — a modern edifice of chaste exterior, and daily acquiring fresh additions to its 

 already extensive and well selected contents. Both these libraries are open for 

 the inspection of strangers ; and, from the many curious documents they contain, 

 are of great advantage to authors engaged in the investigation of national history, 

 literature, and science. 



The University of Edinburgh, for the last centurj^, has been justly celebrated 

 for the abilitv of its professors, and the concourse of students thus attracted 

 to it from all parts of the world. Its " fame is abroad in all the earth;" and 

 most Scotchmen who have travelled — particularly those who have been in the 

 habit of visiting foreign Universities— wll recall with pleasure the high enco- 

 miums pronounced on the professors of their Alma-Mater. 



This college was one of the first monuments which announced the establish- 

 ment of the Reformation in Scotland. It was so far advanced in 1582, that, in 

 the same year, the royal charter was obtained from James VI., and in twelve 

 months after it was opened for the reception of students. Three years 



lieifht of one hundred and sixty-one feet. Charles I. created Edinburgh into a bishopric, but the new 

 prelate survived his consecration only two months. — 1633. 



On the 17th of February, 1598, while James VI. was in this church during the ceremony of its partition 

 into four distinct places of worsl\ip, an eclipse of the sun took place, which greatly terrified both king and 

 congregation. — BrnncL's DUiry. 



