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complishing the plan, as originally projected, and which will amount to the large sum of £15,000, and that without the prospect of deriving any advantage or return whatever, by feaing in its neighbourhood,--all tend to prove, that the selection of such a spot was both inconsiderate and extremely injudicious. Some schemes for its amelioration have indeed been conceived; but why adhere at all to such a place, when other and better sites are to be had?

In regard to placing the prison opposite to Prince's Street, great difficalty will doubtless be experienced from the different opinions of propriefors in this street, added to the effect of the very solemn and decisive judgment of the late Lord Mansfield, when an effort was formerly made to build on its south side. But, even granting the sovereign power of an Act of Parliament to remove these objections, there are others to be encountered, which are quite sufficient to induce an abandonment also of this place. The Cowgate is somewhere about 200 feet above the level of the sea, and the salubrity even of its situation is confessed by medical persons, and has been proved by experience, to be greater than the northern side of the High Street, and (of course) than Bearford's Park; whilst the expence of draining the North Loch, the only means of rendering it at all tolerable, will not (on account of deep cutting) be less than £.10,000 or £.12,000." Your Correspondents have pointed out the desideratum, by naming the CALTON HILL. This position embraces every advantage that can be wished for, and the facility of its accomplishment will surprise those who have not before considered the subject. Neither will any expense for a site for the Jail be here incurred by the inhabitants, as the ground is public property; and, in regard to fine air, it were as much a waste of time to write one word on this head, as to

prove that the fortunes of Buonaparté have somewhat changed within the last six months.

The acclivity from Prince's Street to the Calton Hill is not greater (if it be so much) as on the North Bridge from north to south! Or perhaps it may be more properly compared to the inclination of York Place-Bridewell being only from 8 to 12 feet above the undulating line of Prince's Street*. The property from Shakespeare Square to the Hill will feu readily, and, with the exception of the arch over the Low Calton, will foru an excellent street, running in the line of that house occupied at present by Mr Dickson, builder, Calton, and join the Calton Hill Street nearly at the gate of the burying-ground.

The probable distance from Shakespeare Square to Calton Street may be estimated at about 200 yards-thus affording 1200 feet of excellent ground for building, and which, if taken at the average of 20s. per foot, will, at 20 years purchase, yield a sum equal to £.24,000! And it may here be remarked en passant, that although the Trustees for the South Bridge experienced great obstructions and much difficulty in their schemes, the object was attained; and, after defraying all charges connected with this trust, left a balance in their hands of £.2000 †、

By opening up this road, an access will be procured to the Calton Hill, which will render the ground there intended to be feued extremely desirable, and, at same time, eminently tend to improve the incomes of Herriot's Hospital and the Trinity Hospital,

The base of Bridewell is precisely 10 feet above that of the Register Office; and the declivity from Bridewell to the termination of the proposed road at the Abbey-hill, is nearly one foot in twenty-five-and be

tween three and four roods in length.-E.

This sum is very much under-rated, for we know from unquestionable authority, that the surplus exceeded £19,000.-E.

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THE

Scots Magazine,

AND

EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY,

For JANUARY 1814.

View of different Proposals for the Situation of the NEW JAIL, with the Plan of a Bridge and Road across the CALTON HILL.

"Respice finem."

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, MANKIND, we are told, is naturally pleased with new things, and when at the same time they are set in an agreeable light, this very much heightens the pleasure. There are few subjects, however, but what have been so often considered, that it is not to be expected they should afford many thoughts entirely new; but the same thought set in a different light, or applied to a different occasion, has in some degree a claim of novelty-this is all we can hope from the hints now to be given in this paper. For, although among the various improvements which from time to time have been projected, or successfully carried into execution, in this renowned and prosperous city, there is none, in our opinión, which at all appears to involve so many and so wonderfully important consequences to all classes of the community, as connecting Prince's Street in a direct line with the Calton-hill;-still no claim can be laid to novelty in the scheme, since nearly forty years ago

Jan. 1814.

this plan was projected by our illustrious countryman, the great architect Adam.

In our last number, we presented our readers with the Report of Mr Rae, the very respectable Sheriff of the county, touching the most proper situation for the erection of a New Jail. Mr Rae's report had the good effect, not only of throwing light upon the question, but also of rousing a spirit of enquiry, and exciting considerable interest on the subject. The public attention was called to it by a series of papers which appeared in the Caledonian Mercury; and whilst we testify our approbation of the disinterested conduct of the publisher of that paper, by inserting them to the exclusion of more profitable matter, we shall proceed to give an abstract of their contents, and offer a few general observations on this topic.

It was generally admitted, that the Sheriff had been successful in proving the impropriety of Forrester's Wynd,

the situation first suggested for the purpose; but insuperable objections were very soon raised to that on the south-side of Prince's Street, which he proposed to substitute as a site. "A. Z." wrote thus :

66

"Every one, I believe, who takes an interest in securing to our good town" the advantages of beauty of

situation

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