1802.} State of Arts, Manners, Sc, in Edinburgh and Leith. 
There is a good Mufeum for the illuftra- 
tion of the lectures on natural hiftory. 
The Principal and the Senatus Academicus 
regulate the police of the Univerfity under 
the direction and authority of the city 
magiftrates. A new edifice for. the] ac- 
co« nodation of the profeffors and ftudents 
in all the immediate bufinefs of the Uni- 
verfity began to be built, before the war, 
on the plan of Mr. Adam. It remains 
hitherto unfinithed. 
Here is a Royal Society for-the advance- 
ment of phyfical and moral fcience. It 
was inftituted under the aufpices of the 
late Dr. Robertfon, the hiftorian. Its 
lit of members is highly refpeétable, 
Several volumes of its Memoirs have been 
publifhed, and well received by the 
world, “ 
The phyficians and furgeons of Edin- 
burgh ave refpeétively incorporated. Both 
thefe bodies confilt of men, the pride of 
the fociety of the place, and the beft orna- 
ments of their profeffions. They are, al- 
moft without exception, men of eminent 
{kill in the {ciences allied to thofe noble arts 
which they praétife. 
The clergy of the eftablifhed church 
here are in general illuftrious for know- 
ledge, eloquence, fanétity of manners, 
and diligence in the paftoral funétions. 
‘They are univerfally and very highly re- 
{pected. Several of them are profeffors in 
the Univerfity ; feveral have diftinguifhed 
themielves by their writings. 
Of the faculty of advocates, as men of 
great tate and learning, I have already 
made mention. ‘Their library is one of 
the beft in Europe; and is opened, ina 
manner fulficiently convenient and obli- 
ing, to the fiudious ufe of all men of learn- 
ing and fcientific inquiry. — 
[t were eafily poffible to enumerate by 
name many gentlemen of this city who 
have diltinguifhed themfelves as_philofo- 
phers and eloquent writers by a great va- 
riety of publications.’ But, I muft decline 
the tafk of repeating their names and 
difcriminating their merits, as, for me, 
too delicate and invidious. They are 
beft known by their own writings. 
The municipal government of this town 
is by its charter in the magiftrates and 
town-council. Leith, Canongate, and 
One or two other fuburbs are governed by 
fubordinate magiftrates of the appointment 
of thofe of Edinburgh. There are anum- 
ber of incorporations of artifans who have 
alfo a fhare in the municipal governmen’. 
The adminiftration of the police is ex- 
MontruLtx Maa, No. 83. 
“a7 
tremely vigilant, prudent, and enlightened. 
Street-robberies and murders are, in conli-~ 
deration of the numbers of the people, 
very vare. 
The morals are more commendable than 
in almoft any other great town which I 
might name. Sloth, drunkennefs, and 
venereal diffipation are the only vices here 
very confpicuous. ‘Thefe, I mean, are 
the vices of the bad. A very great pro- 
portion in all ranks are entirely free from 
them. ‘They fall continually more and 
more tnto dilcredit. Every virtue of pru- 
dent difcretion, every virtue.of generous 
magnanimity, every good quality, the re- 
fult of enlarged intelligence, prevails 
among that part of the community who 
are efteemed. No atrocious depravity of 
difpofition and feeling is prominent even 
among the worft. Charity and loyalty 
are two public virtues univerfal among 
thefe people. I cannot exprefs with what 
horror the treafon of Watt and Downie 
was here regarded, nor with what enthu- 
fiafm the volunteer corps affociated for 
the protection of public order, and for 
their country’s detence againft foreign 
enemies. The many charitable inftitu- 
tions, the liberality with which the wants 
of the poor are conftantly fupplied, the 
great fums at different times fubfcribed 
for the orphan families of foldiers and 
failors, may be mentioned out of innu- 
merable inftances to fhew, how open the 
hearts of thefe people are to the fympa- 
thetic fenfe of human woe. 
In drefs, the inhabitants of Edinburel 
follow the fame fafhions as thofe of Lon- 
don. In their victuals, the year perhaps 
lefs cleanly; in their houfes, more fo. 
‘They are very convivial; and perhaps more 
frankly and warmly fo, than the people’ of 
England. They live very littlein that fort of 
unfocial affoctation which one fees in the 
coffee-houies in London. ‘The theatre, 
a concert, a circus for pantomimes and 
feats of horfemanthip, affembly-rooms, 
and frequent aflemblies for cards and 
dancing, are their chief public amufements. 
Tradefmen do not {quander much of their 
money in following thefe. he public 
amufements are conduéted with great de- 
coruin, and under the cenfure of a niccly 
diftinguifhing taffe. 
But, I have already extended this Letter 
to an unreafonable length: and here I am 
obliged to clofe it. 
Tam, Sir, your’s, &c. Roe 
Edinburgh, 
November 3, 1801. 
Le 
