I'jgl. NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDIXBURGH. 22p 



The eaft, or principal front, an elevation of which is re- 

 prefented in the engraving that accompanies this num- 

 ber, is now, Oftober 5, 1791, nearly half finifiied. The 

 north fide, in which a great many of the teaching rooms 

 are to be included, is alfo in great forwardnefs -, parti- 

 cularly the north-weft corner, which contains the ana- 

 tomical theatre, is nearly compleated ; the w ills having 

 been carried to their whole heighth fome time ago, and 

 the roof being in part finiihed. 



Some perfons have objected to this plan, as more 

 fuperb and expenfive than was neceflary : but when it 

 is confidered that this is a public work, which will be 

 prefer\'ed to pofterity as a monument of the taite and 

 fpirit of the times ; — that the Gymfrajia, and other 

 public buildings in Greece and Rome, fo much ex- 

 ceeded the ftile of private buildings as to admit of no 

 for* of comparifon with them ; that from the daily 

 improvements in refpecl of elegance of building we 

 fee taking place in this5,metropolis, the probability is, 

 were we to erecl a ftruclure rather beneath our own 

 ideas at prefent, it would be condemned, in a very 

 few years, as mean and inadequate. All thefe things 

 confidered, it will perhaps rather be thought to fall 

 fhort, than to exceed, what it ought to have been. 



As to the expence, let thofe who objcdi to it, recol- 

 lecl, that when a public building is propofed, the uti- 

 lity of which is obvious and univerfally acknowledged, 

 though the expence of its ere£tion may appear difpro- 

 portioned to the apparent funds for carrying it on, 

 yet the fpirit of the people in this country is fuch, as 

 not to leave room to fear that the fiipplies will not be 

 obtained. Never was an attempt feemingly more 

 hopelefs fet on foot than the building of the Royal In- 

 firmary of Edinburgh, the foundation ftone of which 

 was laid by the patriotic George Drummond, whe-i nil 

 the money that had been collected for building and en- 

 dowing it amounted only to five pounds : nor did 

 ever a man meet with more oppofition and obloquy for 



