336 



EDINBURGH. 



Edinburgh, this edifice wa* laid in 177*, and it has cost L.4O.OOO, 

 ' though only half the original plan is completed ; nor was 

 that accomplished without very ft***- embarrassment, 

 owing to a deficiency of funds. The total numl>er of 

 chambers was intended to be ninety-seven; but, in fact, 

 the increase of number is attended only with the con- 

 venience, that they are longer of being filled. The quan- 

 tity of writing required J'or every transaction in Scot- 

 land is incredible ; more especially if connected with 

 land, or buildings. The acquisition of all property of 

 this description, however inconsiderable in value, re- 

 quires long ami mrticul.ir deeds, as they are called, of 

 conveyance and investiture; if it is transferred again, 

 the same must !>e repeated ; and if it then goes to a 

 third person, the whole must be renewed. Every pa- 

 per given in during a law-suit, must be preserved; mid 

 every transaction of any importance, from safety or ne- 

 cessity, enters the record. The great accumulation of 

 writings can thence be better figured than described. 

 Nay, it may be remarked, that until lately, thesucce-.- 

 ful litigant was obliged to obtain a copy of every pa- 

 per in nis suit, verbatim, -written after a certain form, 

 to enable him to avail himself of his advantage. With- 

 in these few years, some arrangements have been made 

 for the better preservation of the records, and publi- 

 cation of the more curious and useful of older date. 



There are two prisons in Edinburgh, to wlu'ch may 

 be added the prison of the Abbey, and one, which we 

 believe is no longer used, in the Calton, and Bridewell. 

 The principal prisons are situated in the High Street, and 

 in the Canongate ; but they have been devised on princi- 

 ples little consistent with humanity : there is no place for 

 exercise; no circulation of air; no conveniences which 

 health and cleanliness demand ; and but lew separate 

 rooms for prisoners, who pay certain rents, according to 

 the quality of accommodation. Nevertheless, it is not to 

 be denied, that the unfortunate debtor in Scotland enjoys 

 eminent privileges; nay, in regard to criminals, the li- 

 berty of the subject is not to be encroached upon, ex- 

 cept in so far as the public security requires. Almost 

 from the day of confinement, the incarcerating creditor 

 may be compelled to provide an aliment for his debtor; 

 and after a month's imprisonment, the debtor may ob- 

 tain his liberty, by surrendering all his property. Every 

 person accused, can insist on speedy trial, and force it 

 to a conclusion within 100 days. Should the judges 

 require farther information, however, he may be re- 

 manded to prison. Thus, in the strictest view, there is 

 perhaps less necessity for conveniences, than where pro- 

 tracted confinement from unrelenting creditors may 

 ensue ; and it is grateful to reflect, that there is a pro- 

 gressive amelioration in the state of prisoners. The 

 prison in the High Street was originally erected for 

 the joint purpose of accommodating the parliament of 

 Scotland, and the supreme courts, and for the restraint 

 f debtors, and malefactors : the last has been its only 

 use since 164 1. The better class of debtors are con- 

 fined in the Canoturate jail, which was built in the reign 

 of James VI.; and sometimes, ex xpeciali gratia, indi- 

 viduals sentenced to confinement by the Court of Jus- 

 ticiary; as in a late instance of a naval officer, who 

 unfortunately killed a seaman. On very recently in- 

 (jiecting the prison in the High Street, we found, not- 

 withstanding all its disadvantages, that much attention 

 was paid to the comforts of the prisoners. Cleanliness 

 was particularly studied; all the ventilation was given 

 which the edifice would admit, and the prisoners \% en- 

 treated with great humanity. Their number amount- 



ed to forty; but the average throughout the year is Edinburgh, 

 about forty-five; nf these not above 11 fourth were S "Y"*^ 

 debtors, the remainder Ix-ing confined on accusation 

 of crimes, or as a punishment for committing them. 

 They were divided into two separate and distinct classes, 

 and kept in opjxisite quarter* of the prison; a judicious 

 arrangement, to prevent the contamination of morals. 

 The men and women are also kept in separate apart- 

 ments, extremely various in size; but among the larger 

 is the condemned hold, whither criminals are con- 

 ducted after sentence of death, and if requisite, chained 

 to a massy iron bar, ri vetted to the flcxir. Here also is 

 a strong iron cage, of small dimensions, which might 

 be employed for the most daring and refractory. An 

 incarcerating creditor pays sixpence per pound on the 

 amount of the debt, for which his debtor is committed: 

 and a freeman of the city pays two-pence a night of 

 jail fees, which ar doubled to all others. A CKTVT- 

 man performs divine service in the lobby or hall of tin- 

 prison, for which he lias a salary of L.80 a year. The 

 principal jailor, who is called Captain of the jail, de- 

 serves much commendation for his exertions to miti- 

 gate the hardships of confinement ; Imt the comfort of 

 the prisoners might be greatly promoted, by a very 

 trifling expence in further ventilation and proper soil- 

 pipes. The foundation of a new prison was lately laid 

 adjoining to the Parliament House, but, from the appa- 

 rent want of room, one i* to be erected on the CaJton 

 Hill for debtors. 



Bridewell is a spacious modern building, standing in Bridewell. 

 a very conspicuous situation on the Calton Hill. It 

 was founded in 1791, and opened for the reception of 

 petty offenders in the year 1 790'. The expence of its 

 erection was defrayed by an assessment on the inhabi- 

 tants of the city and county, so jndiciou-ly apportioned 

 as to prove no burden, and an aid of L.5000 from go- 

 vernment. In addition to the petty offenders sent here, 

 the commissioners who manage it, are authorised, by a 

 recent statute, to fit up apartments for those unfortu- 

 nate females labouring under disease, which renders 

 it prudent to separate them from the mass of so- 

 ciety. The body of this edifice approaches a semicir- . 

 cular figure: it consist* of five stories, containing a 

 number of cells; and the governor's house is so placed, 

 that he can see all that goes on within them, ami that 

 in concealment from the prisoners. There are thirteen 

 apartments for the purpose of labour in each store}-, 

 with a grating in front, and looking into an inner court. 

 The bed-chambers look to the opposite direction, and 

 are lighted by a long narrow window with glass, open- 

 ing on pivots: each is about eight feet long by seven 

 in breadth, and is provided with an iron bedstead, a 

 straw mattrass, and a Bible. Wood is excluded in the 

 structure of the edifice, except for doors to the apart- 

 ment*. I'risonrrs, on being received, we clothed in a 

 costume peculiar to the place; and their own clothe.--, 

 after being cleaned, are reserved to lit- restored to them 

 at the time of dismissal Their food con-ist* of )x>r- 

 ridge, beer, and broth ; and those who ;>re industrious, 

 may procure an enlirgcd allowance, together with bread. 

 Th>- sole employment of the convicts is spinning by the 

 women, in which nuiny excel, thus proving the indus- 

 trious habils originally implanted in the people of Scot- 

 land ; and the men pick oakum, or are MMIH :inn > em- 

 ployed in digging a garden annexed to the place. Both 

 sexes are allowed payment for their work at a small rate, 

 which is nevertheless still a stimulus to industry ; but 

 the expence of their maintenance is deducted. The 



