that Scotland was destined to see--still lingered among us. Several
were then to be met with who had seen the Pretender, with his court
and his wild followers, in the Palace of Holyrood. Almost the whole
official state, as settled at the Union, survived; and all graced the
capital, unconscious of the economical scythe which has since mowed it
down. All our nobility had not then fled. A few had sense not to feel
degraded by being happy at home. The Old Town was not quite deserted.
Many of our principal people still dignified its picturesque recesses
and historical mansions, and were dignified by them. The closing of
the continent sent many excellent English families and youths among
us, for education and for pleasure. The war brightened us with
uniforms, and strangers, and shows.

'Over all this, there was diffused the influence of a greater number
of persons attached to literature and science, some as their calling,
and some for pleasure, than could be found, in proportion to the
population, in any other city in the empire. Within a few years,
including the period I am speaking of, the College contained Principal
Robertson, Joseph Black, his successor Hope, the second Munro, James
Gregory, John Robison, John Playfair, and Dugald Stewart; none of them
confined monastically to their books, but all--except Robison, who was
in bad health--partaking of the enjoyments of the world. Episcopacy
gave us the Rev. Archibald Alison; and in Blair, Henry, John Home, Sir
Harry Moncreiff, and others, Presbytery made an excellent
contribution, the more to be admired that it came from a church which
eschews rank, and boasts of poverty. The law, to which Edinburgh has
always been so largely indebted, sent its copious supplies; who,
instead of disturbing good company by professional matter--an offence
with which the lawyers of every place are charged--were remarkably
free of this vulgarity; and being trained to take difference of