34* 



, half at five, 

 culture is 



EDINBURGH. 



The numlx-r of families engaged in nr\- 

 in trade, maniif.ifturcs. ami li.imliin.lt 

 operations, 7W2; and thaeeeiuplo\ ed othcrwUe amount 

 to 9379. Tims the individuals supported by agricul- 

 ture, trade, and mnmif.ieture>, din--* not exceed 31,000, 

 ry small pro|*>rtion of the whole. It i-* tu lie obscr- 

 veil, how,-\cr, that a portion of the most populous ]>arish 

 being in the country, the general amount would be di- 

 mini-hcdto TT.TMi". by deducting it; but making a 

 reasonable allowance for OOUMMXM, which indubitably 

 took place, the whole population will be found to con- 

 gist very nearly of 80,000 souls. We are well aware 

 lhat many are of opinion Uiat the population exceeded 

 this number twenty years ago, and that it has alw 

 been increasing ; but we are much UK lined to doubt 

 the progressive increase. It can take place only by 

 an influx from the country, or by the greater (re- 

 quency or greater fertility of marriage*. But the ex- 

 pence of subsistence must undoubtedly operate as a 

 partial check on the former, and in no town in the 

 world perhaps are there so few marriages. The excess 

 of females proves the fact in some degree, and it may 

 be owing to a similar cause with the other, namely, 

 the expence of subsistence. The city has extended 

 wonderfully indeed, not so miu-h, however, from new 

 inhabitant* seeking an abode, as from those previous- 

 ly residing in it requiring more accommodation. It is 

 indisputecl, that there is a gradual and continued migra- 

 tion from the older and less commodious parts of the 

 town to occupy the edifices daily erecting, while their 

 places are letl vacant, or are occupied only by similar 

 numbers. But if 61 houses, which we find were build- 

 ing in the year 1811, received as many families from 

 the country, the accession of population would not be 

 great, allowing the due proportion to each ; and at that 

 Time a number of houses were uninhabited. Thus we 

 are induced to conclude, that although the population 

 may be increasing, the ratio is inferior to the general 

 lielief But to obtain an accurate view of the popula- 

 tion of a nation, the whole list, town and country, 

 should be taken up on the same day. 



Division of There are few persons of high rank citizens of Eclm- 

 the people burgh, or those not engaged in professional pursuits. 

 Almost all are actively and industriously employed, and 

 chiefly in quest of subsistence. The principal profes- 

 sions here are the bar, medicine, surgery, that of at- 

 torney, and the more liberal mercantile vocations : the 

 ecclesiastical establishment is so confined, that it can 

 scarce find a place in calculation. As families of the 

 highest rank frequently breed their younger sons, or 

 sometimes the eldest, to the bar, the law is usually 

 placet! first in order. 



Advicrcs. The barristers are united in a society, called the ta- 

 cultv of Advocate?, who have the privilege of plead- 

 ing in all courts, even in the House of Peers, and can 

 claim exemption from prosecution in any but the su- 

 preme court to which they belong. The only excep- 

 tion is in regard to a useful judicial institution, of which 

 we have already treated. Candidates for the gown un- 

 der<ni sur xaminations in public and private, 



and they must produce certificates of an academical edu- 

 cation There arc at present 276 advocates enrolled 

 on the list, but not above half the number practise at 

 the bar, and scarcely more than 30 gam a livelihood 

 exclusively by their profession. 



Aifcrntys. The first class of attorneys is denominated clerks, or 

 writers to the frignct, because they have the privilege 

 of signing certain writings which pass the kings sig- 

 net. All must ttrve a long apprenticeship, and under- 



n> trials of their skill in law, before being admitted to F <luilmrj;V. 

 practise. The number is at present .'Jfi.'i, mo~t of whom S "*""Y"" W 

 follow the profcs>ioii. A a safeguard to the public, 

 lli.-> arc permitted to ch:irgc their clients only at a cer- 

 tain rate, according to a table of fees submitted to and 

 sanctioned by the Court of Session. 



Another branch of the law department consi>t of 

 solicitors united into a faculty, who practise in the su- 

 preme court as attorneys ; and some whose profession 

 is of a mixed nature, participating of that of advocate 

 and attorney conjoined, who practise in the inferior 

 courts only. We have been unable to ascertain the 

 numbers- engaged in the various branches of the law 

 department, but they probably amount to several thou- 

 sands. 



The medical profession is very celebrated in this ci- phyricMUi* 

 ty. It consists of two Royal Colleges, the one of phy- 

 sicians, the oilier of surgeons. Several distinguished 

 foreigners are enrolled among the former ; but there 

 n few physicians who practise in Edinburgh. Hy 

 their charter of incorporation into a college in IfiNl, 

 and subsequent statute, <hey were enjoined " to \i-it 

 all the apothecaries shops w [thin the city and liberties, 

 at least twice a year, and destroy all insullicient and 

 corrupted drugs." The public inc. tings of the college 

 arc held in a beautiful edifice in George Street, called 

 the Physicians' Hall, perhaps unequalled in the city. 

 It is built after the antique, and is in dimensions S.'l f. et 

 by 6:J. The entrance is gained by a flight of steps to 

 a portico, supported by four columns of the Corinthian 

 order ; and within is a spacious hall, with a gallery 

 supported by ten fluted columns. 



A corporation of surgeons was constituted in Edin- Surgeon.-, 

 burh so early as the year 1.505 ; but, by a strange asso- 

 ciation, united the barbers of the city, as a thing uni- 

 \ c-rsal in Europe at the time. This incongruous bend was 

 broken ; and, in 10'57, the surgeons and apothecaries 

 conjoined in one corporation, more lately formed into 

 a royal college in 1778. The college consists of many 

 skilful, intelligent, and respectable members, whose 

 fame has materiidly added to the celebrity of the medi- 

 cal school of Edinburgh. 



This city cannot be called a place of trade or m:\nu- jtar.uiac- 

 facture ; it is chiefly supported by persons in the law turcs uni 

 and medical departments, especially the former, and by trde. 

 families whose children are attending the high school 

 or university, and other branches of education. But 

 the great bulk of the inhabitants are not engaged in 

 productive industry, compared with many cities of 

 equal extent. There are numerous manufactures, i1 

 true, but almost all arc on an inconsiderable scale, ami 

 conducted without the limits of the city. 



There are several distilleries in the suburbs and im- 

 mediate vicinity of Edinburgh, where great quantities 

 of spirits are made. Independent of what is exported, 

 there are no less than 1048 shops in the city by which 

 they are retailed, and 555 in the county ; that is, 1603 

 places to supply those who require this pernicious be- 

 verage. The consumption is too forcibly demonstrated, 

 by the number of dealers finding it advantageous ; and 

 but for the attendant expence, it is unquestionable, that 

 the demand would still be greater. For a considerable 

 time extensive breweries have been established for the 

 dim-rent kinds of malt liquor, some of which is export- 

 ed to London. The ale in particular has long been, 

 celebrated. Sugars are refined, though not in quan- 

 tities ; and soap and candles of good quality are made. 

 The preference given to English broad cloths renders 

 the woollen manufacture languid; and from the exteu- 



9 



