574 SHORT TOUR OF SCOTLAND. 



tuition of the magiftrates, furpafTcs any pile of 

 buildings in thefe kirv nt. 



One half of the ground is already covered ; and, 

 in .1 few yt Mrs, the whole will he e: The ori- 



ginal j>lan, which was drawn by an ingen hi- 



tec; 19 in all its parts, as to preclude the 



poffibility of improvement thereon, one inftance cx- 

 ceptcd ; vi/. to Ihelter the two outfide (Ireets (each of 

 which confiding only of one row of houfes) from the 

 cutting winds of the winter, by planting the defcents 

 on the oppofite fides with quick-growin; , of 



moil ornamental fpecies, as beeches, ! ;ne, 



Chefhire thorn, and particularly Lombardy poplars, 

 which for their great beauty arc now become univcrfal 

 around London. Thefe, in a few years, will rife ab< 

 the level of the ilrcets, and gradually fcreen the firft 

 (lories; while the fummits may be planted with dou- 

 ble rows of : o as to protect the upper (lories, and 

 afford ;m agreeable (hade, in fummer. Trees thus 

 difpofed, will alfo correct the air, embcllifh the town, 

 and form a convenient, healthful walk to the inha- 

 bitants, efpecially thofe whofe age or infirmities con- 

 fine them to the vicinity of their habitations. All 

 fchemes of covering the open fide of thefe ftreets 



th houfes or (hops, to the height of one (lory, 

 propofed by an anonymous writer, ought to be con- 

 fidered as the delufive projects of interefled perfons, 

 more attentive to private views, than the ornament 

 and benefit of their country. The manifold ad- 

 vantages arifing from thefe improvements to indi- 

 viduals, the corporation, and the kingdom at large, 

 are now generally acknowledged ; and fuch hath 

 been the fpirit and activity of James Hunter Blair, 

 Efq. that during the few months of his mayoralty, 

 he hath drawn up a mod judicious plan of improve- 

 ments on the fouth fide of the town, combated the 

 prejudices and the felfifh motives of oppofition ; and 

 procured an aft of parl empowering the ma- 



giftrates/ 



