the Ruins caused hy the late great Fire at Edinburgh. 95 
ing the ruin on the west, and by means of a small line which 
they threw over the top of the gable at C, the end of a stronger 
rope, to which was affixed a inch hawser, was drawn up. 
This was handed down to the Square, and rove through a block 
attached to a beam, firmly secured by three pieces of timbeiv 
sunk many feet deep in the ground, and supported by a strong 
shore (O). It now became a question, whether the chain should 
be drawn up from behind the gable, or be sent over from above, 
as the line had been in the first instance. Many persons, and 
amongst others, the writer of this article, were of the latter opi- 
nion ; but Captain Head, with better judgment, decided upon 
dragging the chain up from behind. The iron-cable was ac- 
cordingly prepared in a coil, to the eastward of the pile, or 
to the left, at D, as seen in the drawing, and the end being 
made fast to the hawser, it was pulled up by the seamen apply- 
ing their strength to the other end in the Square. The chain, when 
drawn over, made a gap 8 or 10 feet deep, by pulling down at 
first a portion of the wall, and afterwards by loosening and saw- 
ing down the masonry over which it passed (C). When enough 
of chain was thus dragged over, a strong purchase, consisting of 
two double blocks, was lashed to it, and the end of the rope 
was led through a block fastened to the beam. Thus far all 
was ready, but a difficulty arose which had not been contem- 
plated. The corner of the great gable was studded with pro- 
jecting knots, which prevented the bight of the chain (or the 
loop, as landsmen express it), which was to embrace the building, 
from coming sufficiently far up, to prevent the middle of the 
ruin from bulging outwards. 
This was remedied, by fixing a small tackle GGr, to the win- 
dow of a house to the eastward, and attaching the other block te 
the height of the chain, — this being “ bowsed” or drawn up, 
kept the chain clear of the corner, which operation was facilitated 
by taking off the weight, with another small tackle HH, which^ 
by tricing up the cliain, kept it clear of the angles of the ruins 
and the rubbish on the ground. When things were thus ar- 
ranged, they assumed the appearance represented in Plate IV, 
All the party employed now took hold of the chain at KKK, 
and having drawn it quite tight, passed it several times round 
the beam, and fixed it there. This concluded the operations of 
