Edinburgh, give manufactories of Glasgow and Paisley supplying 

 '""" Y ~" 1 *' the capital with cotton goods, they cannot be fabricated 

 here equally cheap. But the linen manufacture is 

 flourishing, and that of silks and sarsnets is daily gain- 

 ing ground. Between 300 and 4(X) weavers are em- 

 ployed in it ; and beautiful shawls are made, of which 

 the prime cost sometimes amounts to twenty-five gui- 

 neas. Quantities of silk stockings are made, but sent 

 to England for dyeing. There is also a small manu- 

 factory of fringe and worsted lace. Such manufac- 

 tures are greatly encouraged by a board of trustees 

 established in the earlier part of the preceding century. 

 Premiums are there offered for the best commodities, at 

 a certain price, as the best dozen of shawls at five gui- 

 neas each, or the best linen, of an appointed texture, at 

 so much a yard : and after due consideration awarded. 

 But the manufacturer competing, must part with his 

 goods, if any member of the board, or another, is willing 

 to take them at the value, which prevents articles of 

 greater worth than they ought to be from being put in 

 competition for the premium. The tanning of hides is 

 a large branch of manufacture, and formerly great 

 quantities of shoes were made for exportation. Buttons 

 were also made in quantities, and a small steam engine 

 employed in the different operations of the work; but we 

 believe it is not carried on at present to any great extent. 

 Household furniture is made in quantities, both for 

 home use and export ; and the fabrication of travelling 

 carriages occupies a number of hands. Perhaps, how- 

 ever, while their quality is improving, the demand is 

 decreasing. There are several manufactories of cart 

 and carriage wheels, of agricultural implements, and 

 machinery for mills. 



Of late, a considerable trade has been carried on by 

 lapidaries, not so much in the greater operations of 

 marble cutting, which is also practised, as in the polish- 

 ing of the beautiful pebbles so common in Scotland 

 1 he avidity with which these are required, as personal 

 ornaments, by strangers visiting the metropolis, has 

 proved a great encouragement to dealers ; but the 

 Edinburgh lapidaries do not understand the art of work- 

 ing in the precious stone-, though some are expert in 

 cutting facetti-s on those of inferior hardness. 



Seal engraving ig well executed ; and engraving in 

 relief, after the .stile of the antique cameos, 'has some- 

 times been attempted. There are many copperplate en- 

 Kravers, who nre oftrn employed tor the London mar- 

 ket. Excellent specimens of their skill may be seen in 

 the Plates of this Work. A few busts are executed in 

 marble ; casts in plaster of Paris are fbly done ; and 

 there are artists who work beautifully in enamel. 



The fabrication of musical instruments ha, much in- 

 creased within these ten or fifteen years. And during 

 a sudden and ill-advised spirit of speculation in trade 

 to Buenos Ayres, in the year 1806, piano fortes were 

 j be a coiiMder.iHle article of export. But there is a 

 strong prejudice in favour of London made instruments, 

 therefore many of home manufacture are merely lent 

 out on hire; and there is probably no city n Europe 

 where they are so invariably seen an article of domes- 

 tic furniture. A single shop has been known to have 

 above 100 out on hire at a time. 



There are several iron founderies here, where ex- 

 tensive orders are executed ; and also brass founderies 

 where the smaller work required by breweries di-til- 

 enes, and steam engines, is finished. Bells of moderate 

 size are likewise founded, but, we believe, that no ( M,t 

 f any magnitude has been recently produced in this 

 city, nor is such almost ever required, unless we ex. 



VOL. VIII. PJUIT I. 



EDINBURGH. 



345 



cept one of nearly a ton weight, which Mr Armstrong Edinburgh, 

 has founded for St George's Church. Besides, the vi- > "Y"*"' 

 cinity of Carron, a foundry celebrated over the world, 

 renders it a powerful and depreciating rival. Though 

 the art is well understood, and sound and beautiful 

 metal produced, difficulty seems to attend any east in 

 brass exceeding the weight of 40 pounds. 



There is an extensive manufactory of cotton cards 

 near Edinburgh, which we have understood carries on 

 a regular traffic with the city of Morocco. A glass- 

 house has lately been established in the city, where ex- 

 cellent glass is blown ; a seasonable substitute for what 

 was formerly manufactured at Leith. 



A great quantity of paper is made in the neighbour- 

 hood, and much is also imported from London, for 

 English writing papers are in general preferred. But 

 the quantity of paper, on the whole, is not equal to 

 what it was in some of the former years. However, 

 the consumpt in printing law proceedings, and the 

 books published in this capital, must always be con- 

 siderable. Bookselling and printing are among the 

 principal trades carried on in Edinburgh. The num- 

 ber of booksellers has nearly quadrupled within twenty 

 years; and, in 1806, it was calculated, that 120 print, 

 ing presses were at work in the city. It has been said, 

 that 100,000 Bibles are annually thrown off by the 

 king's printer, who enjoys this as an exclusive privilege. 

 Works of literature and science, which would formerly 

 have been printed and published in London, are now . 

 printed and published in Edinburgh. A considerable 

 deal of work is likewise done by the Edinburgh print- 

 ers on commission, for London booksellers. Music 

 sellers have increased nearly in the same proportion, 

 but almost all merely deal in retail, nor does it seem 

 so profitable a traffic as the former. It is rare to find 

 a variety of music with them, except for the piano forte. 

 Nothing but the ordinary trades, found in towns of 

 lesser population, are carried on here, and none in par- 

 ticular to great extent. The traders supply both the 

 city and the country ; and 23'2 carriers are weekly em- 

 ployed in transporting goods. But a large proportion 

 of these is in lrant>itu to Leith harbour for export. 

 However, the whole quantity conveyed in this way it 

 probably about 300 tons weekly. The principal articles 

 of trade are silver and plated articles, jewellery, and 

 cutlery, almost all brought from England : Leather, 

 cloths, silks, linens, and stockings ; groceries ; books 

 and paper ; wines and spirits : Such articles as are for 

 home consumption in general, and few for export. 



Various improvements in the city and its suburbs are Projected 

 in contemplation. Th most important of these is the improve- 

 new access to Edinburgh from the east over the Calton- ments. 

 hill. We have not room for any minute description of 

 But when we think of the continuation of Prince's 

 Street through Shakespeare Square the magnificent 

 bridge tliat is to connect it with the hill, the elegant 

 and spacious public buildings that are to be erected 

 there the new town which is to be built on the eastern 

 declivityand the rich, magnificent, and extensive pros, 

 pecta which are to be seen from the eminence in every 

 direction, and to which there will now be the greatest fa- 

 cility of access we figure to ourselves one of the most 

 tasteful improvements that have yet taken place about 

 Edinburgh, and one of the grandest and most enchant- 

 ing scenes that can be seen in any part of the world. 

 It is but justice to record, that though the plan which 

 embraces so much advantage, and so much beauty, was 

 suggested a long while ago, we believe by more than 

 one individual, we are indebted for the efficient pro- 

 2 o 



