Star.
London, England, 1827-08-20 00:00:00

EDINBURGH, AUGUST 16.

GRAND PROCESSION FCHI. LAYING THE FOUND.
ATIONS OF THE NEW BRIDGES. •
Yesterday being ihe day fixed Isr laying the found-,
ationa of the new Bridges. in grand procession, and with appro-
priate masonic honours, and this being the first step towaids the
accomplishment of those magnificent plans, now happily in course
of being carried Into effect, for the farther improvement and em—
bellishment of this fine romantic city, the greatest interest was ex-
cited, and the most eager curiosity displayed to witness this ani-
mating spectacle. The Splendour of the pageant was doubtless
much impaired by the unpropitious sod inclement state of the
weather ; but the importance of .these improvements to the Old
Town, by the opening of the two magnificent approaches, equally
calculated to increase the value of property, to promote the con-
venience and comfort of the citizens and the public, and to add
new and striking features to the already picturesque beauties of
our ancient city, were too sensibly felt not to produce a cornea.
"guiding excitement on the part of the public. Under the man-
agement of H. R. Beowsi, En. every thing was conducted with
admirable order and regularity; and the effect was altogether ex-
tremely imposing. Notwithstanding the wetness of the day. the
streets thmogh which the procession passed, the windows of the
houses on either side, and every spot where a view of the pageant
could be obtained, were crowded with eager spectators. At a
quarter past twelve o'clock, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, with a
number of Lodges belonging to the city, and the tired, in the
neighbourhood, proceeded from the Parliament Square to Prince's
Street. to join in the grandtprocession.
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The °diet bodies frirmini the procession, marshalled by H. R.
Brown, Esq. between Waterloo-place and St. Andrew's-street,
moved about the same hour. and the Grand Lodge, on reaching
the front of the Register Office, fell into its place in the procession,
which then moved along Pri.thes-street, in the following order:
Advanced Guard,
Band of Dragoon Guards,
Troop of Dragoon Guards,
Guard of the 90-d Regiment,
The Constables of Canongate, Abbey, Poresburgh, and
Calton,
The Oflke-Bearers and Incorporated Trades of Canongate,
Poruburgh, and Calton,
The Society of High Constables,
Gentry, Professional Alen,and Citizens of Edinburgh,

The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, with their Of/re-Bearers

and B,nners,'

The Merchant Company, Master and Assistanti,
Heads of Civil Departments,
Rector and Masters of the High School, Professors oT the
University, Established Clergy, the Resident
Magistrates of Canongate and Portaburgb,
with their Officers,
Royal Trumpeters,
The Architects for the Improvements,
Commissioners appointed by the Act of Parliament for carrying
the Improvements into effect, and their Clerk,
The Shttiff et the County,
The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, with their Assessors

and aerks.
Preceded by the Sword and Mace of the City, and
Officers in their Ancient Costume,
Nobility, Officers of the Crown and State,
Distinguished Foreigners,
Naval and Military Officers,
The Grand Ledge of Scotland, with their proper insignia,
accompanied by the other Lodges,
The 92d Regiment, preceded by their Band,
Troop of Dragoon Guards.
The procession, which extended along the whole of Prince's-
street, then proceeded down the Lothian Road, and round by the
back of the Castle to the site of the foundation of the Western
Bridge ; and when the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Commis-
sioners, arrived at the temporary gate opposite the spot, the whole
halted, by a signal given by the Royal Trumpeters, answered by
those of the Dragoon Guards in front, and by the bugles of the
92d Regiment in the rear. The Lord Provost, Magistrates, Council,
and Commissioners, with the Most Worshipful the Grand Master,
and the Members of the Grand Lodge, then advanced, and ascended
a platform to right and left, when the ceremony of laying the foun-
dation stone commenced. This occupied about three quarters of
an hour; after which the Lord Provost, Magistrates, Council, and
Commissioners, and Members of the Grand Lodge, having resumed
their places, an advance was sounded by the Royal Trumpeters,
and answered as before, when the whole procession again moved
forward by the Graosmarket, and up the Candlemaker.row to Mer-
chant-street. When the official part of the procession reached this
spot, a halt was again sounded, and the Lord Provost, Magist
Council, Commissioners, and Grand Lodge, advanced as before to
the site of the foundation of the southern Bridge. Here, in addi-
tion to platforms on each side for the Magistrates, &c. and Grand
Lodge, an extensive scaffolding, overlooking the scene, was crowded
oy spectators, chiefly Ladies. The whole had taken their places
about two o'clock, when at the request of the Lord Provost, one of
the heralds read the preamble of the Act of Parliament anthorising
the improvements, which was followed by three cheers. The
King's and Masons' Anthem were then played by the bands of the
Ist Dragoon Guards and 92d Regimentotationed in Merchant•street.
The Rev. Dr. Guzman then, in an appropriate and impressive
prayer, invoked a blessing on the great undertaking which was that
day commenced, after which the masonic ceremony of laying the
stone was proceeded in. The Grand Treasurer and Grand Secre-
tary descended, and placed in cavities of the stone ,two crystal
bottles containing the various coins of the realm (obligingly trans-
mitted by the blaster of his Majesty's Mint for this purpose),
along Kith copies of each of the Edinburgh Newspapers, and the
Edinburgh Aloranack. These had been prepared and hermetically.
sealed. In another cavity were placed two plates, bearing appro-
priate inscriptions. The stone was then lowered down.

WiLuass Isous, Esq. of Middleton, acting, in the absence of
the Earl of Kinnoull, as Grand Master Mason of Scotland, at-
cnmpanied t Ronald Macdonald, Esq. of Staffs, Provincial Grand
Master of Argyle and the Isles, acting as Substitute Grand
Master, and Samuel Anderson, Esq. and Mr. Clireheugh, acting
as the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, then descended to the
stone ; and having applied the square, the plumb line, and the
level, in the meal masonic form, and with the customary cere-
monies; the Grand Master then said—" Having, my Right Wor-
shipful Brethren, full confidence in your skill in our Royal Art, it
remains for me now to finish this our work." He then gave the
stone three knocks with the mallet, saying—" May the Almighty
Architect of the Universe prosper this undertaking," &c. The
Grand Lodge, the Lord Provost, Magistrates, Commissioners, &c.
then gave three loud and hearty cheers, which were echoed by the
surrounding multitude, the bands playing" Great Light to Shine,"
the masons anthem, &c. The ceremony being thus completed, a
signal was given by the letting off a couple of rockets, upon which
a salute was inintedi.tely fired from the guns of the Castle, while
the bands were playing appropriate airs. Corn, wine, and oil were
poured upon the stone, atter which the office b of the Grand
Lodge ascended, and resumed their places on the platform.
Mr. hunts then addressed the Lord Provost. Magistrates, and

Commissioners under the statute.—ln the absence of the Right
llonourable and Most Worshipful the Karl of Kinnoull, Grand
Master Mason of Scotland, and of the R. 11. and M. W. Lord
Rich°, Deputy Grand Master, the honourable task had unexpect-
edly devolved upon him of presiding masonically uFon this occa-
sion, on the auspicious anniversary of the day so gratifying to the
feelings of all Scotland—the day on which the King landed on his
visit to this metropolis. •
The Loan NOVOrt then addressed the Substitute Grand Master,
and expressed great pleasure that the duty of laying the stone had
fallen into the hands of a Gentleman so well able to perform the
duties of Grand ,haste:—(Cheers). His Lordship proceeded—
Under the sovereign power of the Great Architect of the Universe,
and with the assistance of the moot worshipful and ancient Frater-
nity of Masons, we have now begun the 'pat work of improving
this our ancient and venerated city, by Farrying into execution a
series of the most splendid improvements, and combining with its
far famed local beauties all those advantages of modern art which
the genius of the present day, and our great advancement in the
science of elegant and classical architecture, render so peculiarly
attainable. Ilia Lordship concluded by returning thanks to the
Masonic and other bodies who had so numerously and promptly
joined in the procession; and to the public generally, who had taken
such an interest in the proceedings of the day, particularly the fair
part 01 the community—(lw/king to the gallery)—who had given
their countenance and presence un the occasion. ilia Lordship's
speech was follows d by loud cheers.
. .. . • • _

. -
The Grand Lodge, .11agistrates, Ste. having resumed their places
in the line of pi ucession, it proceeded up the Calitilentaker.row, by
Bristo-street, Loklaiao-sheet, and South Bridge, Street, to the front
of the Royal Exchange in the Higb-street, where the ceremony of
the day ended.