times the garden belonging to the monastery of Greyfriars)— where some of the most notable Scotsmen are interred, including George Buchanan, the accomplished Latin poet and preceptor of James VI.; Allan Ramsay, the Scottish poet; Principal Robertson, the historian; Dr. Black, the distinguished chemist; Dr. Hugh Blair, Colin Maclaurin, Dr. M'Crie, the biographer of Knox, Patrick Fraser Tytler, and other eminent men. One of the most interesting tombs is that of the Martyrs who suffered at the time of the Reformation. It is situated in the lower part of the cemetery, next the city wall, and bears the following inscription:—

From May 27, 1661, that the most noble Marquis of Argyle fuffered, to the 17th February 1688, that Mr. James Renwick fuffered, were executed at Edinburgh about one hundred of noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and others, noble martyrs for Jefus Chrift: the most part of them lie here.

One of the most picturesque and effective views of the Castle and Old Town is to be obtained from this churchyard.

The Old Greyfriars' Church was built in 1612, but it was not constituted a parish church till 1722. Previously to this, in May 1718, its spire was blown up by gunpowder, which had been lodged in it by the town authorities for security. It was destroyed by fire in 1845; and re-erected soon afterwards, with many internal improvements, among which are several stained glass windows of considerable merit. It was in this church that the first signatures to the National Covenant were appended in 1663; and in which Robertson, the celebrated historian of Charles V., officiated for many years.

Leaving the churchyard, and advancing along Forrest Road, we pass the Charity Workhouse; then taking the road to the right along Lauriston Place, we reach in a few minutes the gate of

HERIOT'S HOSPITAL.

This handsome edifice, one of the proudest ornaments of the city, owes its foundation to George Heriot, jeweller to James VI., whose name will probably be more familiar to the ear of

strangers as the "Jingling Geordie" of The Fortunes of Nigel.* The design, which is attributed to Inigo Jones, is in that mixed style which dates its origin from the reign of Elizabeth, examples of which are afforded by Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire, Northumberland House in the Strand, and many other edifices throughout the kingdom. Its form is quadrangular, the sides each measuring 162 feet, and enclosing a court of 92 feet square. The building was commenced in 1628, and completed in 1660, and the erection is said to have cost £27,000. The chapel, occupying the south side of the quadrangle, a few years ago presented nothing but a clay floor and bare walls, round which there was a stone seat, to accommodate the boys when assembled for morning and evening service. It is now fitted up in a very different style; and, with its splendid pulpit, fine oaken carvings, richly adorned ceiling, and beautifully stained-glass windows, forms one of the principal attractions of the place. The object of this splendid institution is the maintenance and education of "poor and fatherless boys," or boys whose parents are in indigent circumstances, "but who must be the sons of freemen of the town of Edinburgh." It accommodates about 180 boys.

In addition to this liberal provision for the instruction of youth, there are ten bursaries, or exhibitions, open to the competition of young men not connected with the institution. The successful competitors for these bursaries receive £20 per annum for four years. The princely provision thus made for the welfare of his countrymen amply justifies the sentiment put into the mouth of the founder by Sir Walter Scott, "I think mine own estate and memory, as I shall order it, has a fair chance of outliving those of greater men." The management is vested in the Town-Council and Clergy of the City, and visitors are admitted by an order.†

On the open area to the south of Heriot's Hospital, and almost opposite it, stands GEORGE WATSON'S HOSPITAL, an

* "For the wealth God has sent me, it shall not want inheritors while there are orphan lads in Auld Reekie."-Fortunes of Nigel, chap. iv.

A brief outline of the benevolent founder's history is given in the Note to chapter ii. of the same work.

To be got at 11 Royal Exchange, High Street, admission from 12 to 3, Saturdays excepted. No gratuity.

THE MEADOWS AND BRUNTSFIELD LINKS.

69

institution for the benefit of the children and grandchildren. of decayed merchants of the city of Edinburgh. The building is plain, but commodious, and it accommodates between eighty and ninety boys. There are numerous similar institutions in and around Edinburgh. After George Heriot's, the one of most note (in an architectural point of view), is DONALDSON'S HOSPITAL, one of the finest buildings in Scotland, and which stands on a piece of ground to the westward of the city, about a mile along the Glasgow Road from the west end of Princes Street. The founder was a printer in Edinburgh, who died in 1830, and bequeathed the greater part of his estate, amounting to nearly £200,000, for the purpose of building and maintaining an hospital for poor, and deaf and dumb children, and there is accommodation for about 300. The building is from the design of Mr. W. H. Playfair, whose reputation would securely rest on this structure alone, if Scotland were not fortunate enough to possess numerous other examples of his taste and genius.

Retracing our steps to Forrest Road, the Meadow Walk, a beautiful avenue of aged trees will be seen exactly opposite.

This walk conducts to an extensive common or public park, called the "Meadows," on the west of which are Bruntsfield Links (Downs), where the inhabitants amuse themselves with the national game of golf. The game is played with a club and ball. The club is formed of ash, flexible and finely tapered, measuring from three to four feet long, according to the player's height or length of arm. The head is faced with horn and loaded with lead. The ball is about the size of a common tennis ball, made of gutta percha. The game consists in striking the ball successively into a certain number of small holes, about a quarter of a mile apart, the player who does so in the smallest number of strokes being the victor. Each player carries an assortment of clubs varying in elasticity, and thus adapted to the distance the ball is to be driven, the best club for a long stroke being laid aside for one less elastic, when the distance becomes shortened. An expert player will strike a ball from 130 to 200 yards.* The principal Golf Clubs

* Among the most memorable feats in the annals of golfing is that of a player who struck a ball over the top of St. Giles's steeple from a point within

are the Burgess, the Bruntsfield Links, and the Warrender, each of which has its arms and crest, and particular uniform.

In this quarter, and on the whole south side of Edinburgh, there are a number of pleasant suburban villas. The most of these have a southern exposure, partly towards Arthur's Seat, and partly towards the Pentland Hills. They are divided into different districts, of which the principal are Newington, the Grange, Bruntsfield, Greenhill, Morningside, and Canaan. At the Grange is situated the Southern Cemetery, where the late Dr. Chalmers and Hugh Miller are buried. In the same locality also is the Grange mansion-house, the property of Sir John Dick Lauder, Bart., and long the residence of the late Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, author of an account of the Morayshire Floods," Highland Rambles," etc. At Morningside is

the Parliament Square. Another player, still alive, struck his ball over Melville's Monument, which, from the ground to the head of the statue, measures 150 feet.