The PALACE of HOLYROOD HOUSE. 
“This magnificent fabrick, as it at prefent ftands, was' reared in the leign of 
Charles II. There has often' been remarked in it a drilling relemblance to the palace 
at Hampton Court. It is of a quadrangular form. The Church fills out one fide of the 
fquare. The other fide and the back are completed by buildings of a more modern 
date. The court in the centre is mod beautiful and fpacious, furrounded with elegant 
piazzas. The imperial crown on the little cupola above the door is formed of done, 
but cut in a neat and very maderly manner. 
The apartments pofTeffed by the Duke of Hamilton occupy all that remains of the 
old Palace. 
In the fecond floor are Queen Mary’s apartments, in one of which her own bed dill 
remains, it is. of crimfon damafle bordered with green filk taffels and fringes. The- 
cornice of the bed is open figured work in the prelent talfe. The embroidery on the 
bed and chairs is faid to be chiefly the work of Mary’s own fidget s'. Confidering the 
age of the 'furniture, it is adonifhing to fee it fo little decayed. The Keeper of the 
palace has great merit for the excellent repair in which thefe apartments are preferved. 
Towards the outward door of the Chamber of Prefence, there are in the floor fome 
large dufkv fpots, faid to have been occafmned by Rizzio's blood daining the floor, which 
wafhing of the boards has not been able to take out. Many tales are handed down 
concerning them, which have no claim to probability. But the tradition of the faft has 
been fo uniform that there can be no doubt of its truth. 
Thole chambers which are called the Royal Apartments, occupy three fidcs of tb" 
fquare on the fird floor. On the north is a fpacious gallery upwards of 120 feet ' 
length, but no ways proportioned in height. It is hung all over with portraits of- 
race of an hundred and eleven monarebs, through an imaginary feries of upwards of 
two thoufand years. They are very poorly executed. Mod of them are hacked and 
flafhcd, and of many large pieces arc cut out. This was the work of General" Hawlcvt 
troops after the defeat of the King’s army at Falkirk. A C - V s 
In one fuit of rooms, the walls are wainfeoted with oak ; the fedoons of flowers and 
foliage over the doors and mantle-pieces are well executed ; but the ducco or 
of the roofs, fimilar to all thofe of that period, are very heavy. ‘laments 
The apartments on the fide of the fquare have never been finifhed but in a 
fui manner. They are made ufe of as lumber rooms for fome of the nobift ' -i 
lodgings within the palace. ^ “ 
A very plaufible febeme was fometime ago propofed for applying t i iefe 
and extenfive domes to the accommodation of the Univerfity Btu the fou d CCU ^- 
that very magnificent building, the New College, has, for the Drefem Tl " ° f 
thefe commendable defigns. It his, however, a fubjea of reared that fok 3 ft ° P l ° 
fums fhould be Iavifhed in raifing new druSures, and that the old ones fo fin^i ,m . menfe 
for the purpofe fhould remain wade, and go to decay for want of being ufod' 7 
The environs of the palace afford an afiylum for Insolvent Debtors aj - • ■ 
it, there is an extenfive park, fird enelofed by James V. all of which is'a 
The 
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