Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-07-14
lam, very respectfully, your sbsdieni
servant.
JOHN MCLEAN.
From Carter's Letters.
EDINBURGH.

strong impression. The skies were
cloudless, the atmosphere transparent,
and the sun went down in all his glsry,
throwing his golden beams upon the in
Vulnerable towers, turrets, spires, monn-
ments and castellated buildings, which
crown the triple hills on which Edin-
burgh is seated. We entered the most
imposing part of the town, being that
section of it, which is comparatively new,
and which affords distinct blu. distant
view Of ether portions which will not SO
we'll bear close examination. But after
making ell due deductions for these adj
ventitous embellishments, it is in exter-
nal appearance the most beautiful city |
have ever seen, or expect to see, should
my travels extend the world over. No
thing can surpass it in grandeur and
beauty. The first glance reminded one
of tho picture, which the splendid ina
gination of Gibbon has drawn OF the CT
~ Of seven hills" in the age Of Angus
tus.
Nature has literally contributed her
part, 10 produce this magnificent piano.
rama. II Edinburgh could be sunk to
q plain, or transferred to the banks OF
the Thames, half its splendor would be
lost, intrinsically rich and SNOWY as are its
edlfices. The hills ON which it rises;
Salisbury Crag and Ar,hur's Sea, lift
ing their picturesque submits, and over
looking tho town from the cast; the rock
on which the castle stands, towering TO
the height OF 200 fee, in the midst oil the
city; the deep ravines on each side, in
which part Of The buildings are cra-
died; the distant smpilheatre Of noun.
tains around and the Forth spreading
broad and bright expanse of water to the
north east, constitute peculiar and strik-
ing features in the outlines OF Edinburgh.
The hand Of art has seized upon these
natural advantages, and wrought upon
the same scale in filling up the picture.
II an artist with all the materials al his
command, seated himself upon Salisbu
ry Crag, and directed city TO be built
as a work OF taste, and to be exhibited as
panorama, he could not have made
many Improvements upon the one, which
has sprung up at different periods and
by common consent. The unanimity
with which unsightly buildings have been
excluded, and the city adorned with
works Of art is indeed remarkable. In
the older parts, which were erected CEN
turtles ago, little regard was probably
paid to architectural beauty, and it is al
most a miracle that interest and conve-
nience should have so uniformly coincid-
ed with taste. The symmetry of the
new town is less singular, since coun-
Gil composed OF Judicious and intelligent
men exercise controlling influence and
prohibit the intermix,ure Of mean build
ings.
But am attempting description of
Edinburgh almost before it has been en-
tered. Ascending slowly by the new
road, which was made by the govern
ment at an immense expense over the
brow oil Canton Hill, the decliyity OF
which required in some places terrace
OF 80 and 100 feet, we arrived at the head
oil Pine street, extending for more than
mile in perfectly straight line through
the head OF the city, bordered by blocks
OF beautiful edIGces, and thronged with
crowds Of we'll dressed people. There
was more truth than point in the epi,het
employed by his Majesty, to characterize
the capital Of the north, whom in 1921 he
rode along this street, and viewing the
assembled multitude on Cotton Hill,
exclaimed to enc of his suite, " how
superb !" compliment from king,
however insipid, goes great way in
Europe, and the two honied words which
dropped from the lips Of his Majesty
have been embalmed and preserved by
the topogrsphers Of Edinburgh for the
benefit Of pos.sri,y. As my readers are
plain republicans, unaccus.omed to dis.
cover any peculiar virtue in the oracu-.
lar says OF royalty, it will be necessary
to be little more explicit, to give them
an idea Of tho magni6cence Of this
street.
The buildings here, as in other parts
Of the town, are Of light-colored stone,
obtained from extensive qusrries in the
vicinity, and wrought with the utmost
sxactness. How much superior both in
beauty and durability is this solid male.
rial, 10 tho patchwork and stucco Of Re.
gent street in London. The richest or.
ders and the finest proportions in archi-
lecture are observed, and the new town
Of Edinburgh is strictly classical. AS
the expense Of building, according to
the best models, is no greater than tho
ordinary way, ! cannot but think the ex-