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bridge, batteries for the defence of which will be 

 observed on each flank, crosses a dry fossd, now form- 

 ing a capital " fives court " for the use of the garrison. 

 Turning to the right, the first object of interest as 

 we trod the rock-o'vershadowed " covert way," was an 

 ancient gateway, within which the groves where the 

 portcullis descended and the fittings for massive gates 

 may be seen. The structure over the gateway was 

 formerly a State Prison, having had distinguished 

 prisoners, such as the Marquis of Argyle, immured in 

 it ; and was last used as a prison about eighty years 

 ago. The two hounds sculptured over the gateway 

 recall the time when the Duke of Gordon was Governor, 

 at the period of the Eevolution. The Argyle Battery on 

 the right, the Armoury, with storage for 30,000 stand 

 of arms, down a roadway in front, and the officers' 

 quarters, occupying the lesser height on the west of 

 the rock, present no special feature of interest. We 

 followed a causeway leading past these buildings, 

 entering the citadel by a steep road on the left leading 

 under a gateway. In the palace court there is the small 

 apartment in which the Regalia, the ancient " honours " 

 of Scotland, are shown, and the octagonal room, with 

 panelled and inscribed walls, within which Mary, Queen 

 of Scots gave birth to James " First and Sixth." From 

 the window of the latter room a magnificent view to 

 the south-east is obtained. The crown jewels," have 

 been well described by Scott and by Lockhart. 

 " Leaving the courtyard, on the right is seen the Half 

 Moon Battery, with the clock and gun by which the 

 audible one o'clock signal is fired daily from the ram- 

 parts. Ascending a few steps, the summit is reached, 

 called the King's Bastion, on which is placed the ancient 

 cannon called Mons Meg. " Many legendary stories 

 of this piece of ordnance exist, but the presence of an 

 almost identical gun called Mad Meg at the corner of 

 Friday Market, in the city of Ghent, gives support to 

 the Flemish origin of the gun found here." Her Majesty 

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