Account of 
Sir James Hun- 
ter Blair, 
34 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
were not to be left vacant, were to be fold again for the pur- 
pofe of erecting buildings according to a plan. Sir JAMEs con- 
ceived, that the fale of thefe areas, in confequence of the great 
improvement of their fituation, would raife money fufficient, 
not only to pay for the firft purchafe of the property, but alfo 
to defray the expence of building the bridge, and whatever elfe 
was neceflary for completing the communication. But left 
there fhould be any deficiency, and likewife to afford a fecurity 
for borrowing the money which might be requifite, the tru- 
ftees for carrying on the work were to be empowered to levy a 
fam not exceeding 10 per cent. of the valued rents of the 
houfes in Edinburgh and the environs ; and in order to remove 
all juft caufe of complaint, he propofed, that if any of the 
owners of the property to be purchafed fhould not agree with 
the truftees, the price of their property fhould be fixed by the 
verdi@ of a jury, the jury confifting of fifteen perfons, who 
were chofen by lot out of forty-five proprietors of houfes or 
land in the city or county, named by the Sheriff in each parti- 
cular cafe. 
Turse propofals were publifhed in November 1784, and met 
with the fame reception which has often attended fchemes of 
{till greater importance and more extenfive utility. ~They were 
cenfured and oppofed from various quarters, and fometimes 
even with virulence. A man of lefs ardour and public fpirit 
would have yielded to the difcouragements which Sir JamEs 
experienced on this occafion. Fortunately, he was of fuch a 
temper, that they ferved only to roufe his exertions, without 
rendering him lefs prudent in his meafures. His perfeverance. 
furmounted every oppofition. An act of Parliament was ob- 
tained for carrying into execution, not only the plan which has 
been mentioned, but likewife feveral others of great confequence 
to the place; and on the ift day of Auguft 1785, the work: 
was begun, by laying the foundation-ftone of the bridge, 
which. 
