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prince of Scotland by her marriagecontract, there were 1300 payable out of Berwick.

Berwick was governed by a Mayor, with four provosts subordinate to him. Perth, Striveline, (or Stirling) Roksburgh and Jedburgh, had each at least one Alderman, apparently the chief magistrate. Hadington was governed by a provost. Peebles and Munross (now called Montrose) had each a bailie. Linlithgow, and Inverkeithing, had each two bailies. Elgin also was governed by bailies; and before this time Glasgow had three co-ordinate provosts, and also bailies,

During the reign of Alexander, wheat sold from is. 4d. to is. 8d. per boll; barley 1od. oats 4d. An ordinary horse il. A carcase of mutton in Berwick, according to the different seasons, 8d. to Is. gd. Ale id. to 2d. per gallon.

On the death of Alexander, and
of his infant grand daughter Queen
Margaret, Edward I. advanced his
claim to the crown of Scotland,
which he was prepared to enforce by
arms. A long period of calamity
ensued, during which the commer.
cial interests of Scotland suffered an
extreme depression. In order to de-
prive the Scots of the means of car-
rying on the war, he made a requi-
sition that the Flemings should no
longer supply them with arms and
provisions: a demand which that
people, solely intent on the advance-
ment of their commerce, wisely and
steadily refused.
At this Edward
was at one time so exasperated as to
seize all the Flemish vessels in his
dominions. (To be continued.)

Strictures on the proposal of building on
the South side of Princes Street, E-
DINBURGH with Extracts from a
speech of Lord MANSFIELD, on the
same subject.
SIR,

AFTER an absence of many years
from my native city, you may

believe it was with no small pleasure I observed the various improvements which have taken place within the last 30 years: the compleating of the New Town, the South Bridge, the University, &c. &c. have all given me the most heartfelt satisfaction. For some days after my arrival here, I could do nothing but explore the changes which have been made during my absence, which I did with peculiar satisfaction, in the company of an old and dear friend, not one of the least respected inhabitants, I am glad to find, which your city can boast of. In his society, charmed with the recollection of former days, I endeavoured, in the noble and elegant streets of the west end of the Town, to trace the situation of those fields where I had so often spent the summer evenings of my youthful days. The recollection, however, was mingled with regret : alas! how few of the companions of those early days now survive! But I must not give way to my own feelings, but return to the object I had in view in addressing this letter to you. While my friend and I were admiring the improvements which had taken place during my long absence, I was much struck with that fine row called Princes Street, which, from the singular view of the Old Town, and the noble rock on which the castle stands, is superior to any thing of the kind I have ever seen. I was naturally led to express to my friend, my satisfaction at the inhabitants of this city having so fine a walk, particularly in winter; but he soon put an end to my admiration, by informing me that the magistrates intended to build of the street, and by that means a range of houses on the south side spoil this noble view. At first, I

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really thought he had said this to temper my praises, of which I had been so lavish ; but, alas, Sir, I found

he was serious, and that it was actually intended to build out the noble

and romantic view of the castle. Now, though I have not the highest idea of corporations in general, as they are, for the most part, composed of men whose line of education is only meant to fit them for the back of a counter, yet I had been brought up with a sort of reverence for the Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh, and to suppose for one moment that they were capable of destroying the finest street in Europe for the paultry consideration of a few hundreds a year of ground rents, gave me the most serious concern.

The subject interested me much, and by mere accident recalled to my recollection a circumstance, which, when my friend first mentioned the thing, had entirely escaped me. By one of those singular chances, which but seldom occur in the course of a man's life, I happened to be in the House of Lords a few days before I sailed for India, when the law-suit between the inhabitants of Princes Street and the Magistrates of Edinburgh, was to be decided. Being deeply interested in whatever regard ed my native city, the result of the decision was of course a matter of great moment to me, and I recollect, as well as if the circumstances had happened yesterday, the leading points of the case. Nor shall I ever forget the satisfaction which the speech of the great Lord Mansfield gave to all present, who were at all interested in the prosperity of Edinburgh. He was particularly severe upon the Magistrates, and in that impressive and forcible manner so peculiar to himself, gave them, according to the vulgar phrase, such a dressing, as few corporations, I believe, ever received in that House.

After some inquiry among my law friends here, I have been so fartunate as to recover notes of part of his Lordship's speech, which I can aver are not nearly so marked, or so severe, as what he actually delivered in

the house; but I do think they are sufficiently strong to satisfy any set of Magistrates, that, were they to attempt such a thing now, it would stamp their conduct for ever as infamous. Their success, in point of law, from what Lord Mansfield has laid down, is pretty obvious; they certainly have not a shadow of right to build there, and, were I the proprietor of even a garret in Princes Street, I would rather sell it to pay the expence of the law-suit, than allow them to build a single house on the South side. As in all probability the speech of that learned judge must be now forgotten, or at least little known to the greater part of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, I think I cannot do better than, thro' the channel of your very useful miscellany, communicate an extract of it to my fellow-citizens. It will tend to satisfy them, that there is no dan ger of the Magistrates having any right to build there; and I hope and trust, it will induce these respectable gentleman, who are certainly chosen to watch over the interest of the community, to lay aside all thoughts of the kind, and in place of that, to finish the street without delay, by putting up a handsome parapet wall and rail, as they have done at the east end of the Street; for I think I may venture to assure these honourable gentlemen, that if ever they attempt to build there, they may insure the curses, but will never be entitled to the thanks of the community. Nor are the inhabitants of Princes Street alone concerned in this business, but every citizen of Edinburgh; nay eve ry stranger is interested, that this noble street should enjoy the view of the castle and old town, both of which would be for ever hidden from the public eye, were any buildings allowed to be erected on the south side of Princes Street.

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But, Sir, I trust that I have said enough on the subject, and the following

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Speech of Lord MANSFIELD.

"I well remember, my Lords, some years ago, when the situation and improvement of this part of the kingdom came to be generally wished for and considered; I well remember, I say, being greatly affected by the description of the inconveniency at tending the capital of North Britain; this description your Lordships have now partly heard in the case of the appellants; and I am well informed it is not exaggerated: I saw with pleasure, many noble Lords and Gentle men of the first rank, interest themselves in the matter; and this pleaSure was not diminished by the incor poration of Edinburgh taking the lead, and giving a proper example of zeal and activity. This procedure was what it ought to have been. It gave hopes of success, and marked the character under which these gentlemen were appearing. Persons of the first rank were invited to join them, artists of the first ability to furnish them with the model, and a national contribution proposed for defraying the expence. Committees were held, money was subscribed, and at last the attention of all parties turned to the capital improvement, the exten. sion of the royalty upon the grounds towards the north, and the erection of a new city upon these grounds; for this purpose an act of parliament became requisite, and was obtained upon application of all concerned. I remember, my Lords, being active in bringing this bill about, although several objections possibly lay against it; a noble Lord, now no more, had determined to oppose it; nay, a noble Lord, who now hears me, meant to support this opposition. One of

*Lord Abercorn.

these objections has this moment occurred to me : The inhabitants of the extended royalty were to be excluded in the representation of the city, and yet lye open to be taxed by the old incorporation; this was, and perhaps justly, deemed unequal and unconstitutional; yet under such colours, under such specious appearan ces, was the matter dressed up to me, and so much was my opinion heightened of the persons into whose hands this trust was to be committed; so much, I say, were all these things impressed upon me, that I prevailed with these noble Lords to withdraw their opposition; the bill, which otherwise would not have happened, passed into a law, and a great boon it was to the corporation of Edinburgh.

"These gentlemen, thus aided by the nation, and impowered by the legislature itself, continued to proceed in the character expected of them.— In their case, now presented to your Lordships, you are told, that after consulting with several persons of distinction and taste, they had fixed upon the general form of a plan offered them by an ingenious artist, Amongst the people of distinction and taste, there were my Lord Alemore, my Lord Kaimes, my Lord Advocate for Scotland, Mr. Commissioner Clerk, and among other artists the Mess. Adams no doubt. By these gentlemen several alterations and improvements were made to this plan, and an Advertisement was published by the corporation, informing the public, that they had that day finally adjusted the plan of the New Town, which was to lye open at the Council-chamber for the inspection of such as inclined to become feuars.

"In consequence of this, the appellants and others came, they viewed the plan,and chose situations for their intended houses.

"The line of buildings termed Princes Street, seemed soon to fill up,

for

for a very obvious reason; the whole grounds to the south of this line were left as an open area in the plan, and delineated as pleasure grounds; the lake, or north-loch, formerly a nuisance, is there thrown into the agreeable form of a canal, with walks and terrasses on each side. The plan, now in my hand, ascertains every circumstance or form better than any writing in the world; it speaks to the eye; it presents a pic ture which no verbal description can afford; so far, therefore, as appeared from the plan, it was unnecessary, upon the part of the plaintiffs, to propose a question; it only remained to know, what was to be paid by each person for the scite he had cho

sen.

This was done by a scheme entered in a book, and this scheme made relative to the plan. By both of these completely satisfied, they paid their money, and have, bona fide, upon the faith of what happened, erected houses, in a manner, and at an expence even superior to the idea of the public. After some time, the plaintiffs were surprised by the ap. pearance of buildings upon the ground, which they always supposed destined to the health and beauty of the place; and in place of terrasses and walks upon the north-loch, they find a new street making its way, as a peculiar favourite of the corporation, under the name of Canal Street. The gentlemen immediately bring their complaint before the corporation; they appeal to the plan, and pray to be informed how such an infringement could even be imagined, far less carried into execution; or who the town could allow themselves to act against the good faith of the public, and the express terms of

their sale.

"Now, my Lords, what answer did the corporation make to all this? Plan, say they, why, gentlemen, you have egregiously deceived yourselves, that is not the plan at all. No! say

the plantiffs, where is it then? Here replied the corporation, in an act of our council, of such a date : did you never see that before, gentlemen? No, indeed, rejoined the feuars, we never did. Impossible, continue the magistrates, you are men of business, your receipts for the money bear the date of this act ; and it is in vain to say you could so far neglect or im pose upon yourselves. Why, you are to have no canal, no walk or terrasses, no pleasure ground: here is Canal Street, there is a coach house, there a butcher's shop, there a tallow.chandler.

"Can your Lordships approve the conduct of this corporation, or the contemptible idea upon which this conduct has been endeavoured to be justified? The plaintiffs, I am told, are men of character, and they are men of business; able and eminent in their profession. I say it, my Lords, and I am proud to do so in this house, that no class of men in the nation act with more openness, more generosity, more implicit confidence, than men of business do, when satisfied of the honour and probity of their parties. I have known many a noble Lord in this house, and sure I have done so myself, subscribe an hundred deeds without throwing our eyes upon a single line of them, and why? because we were well ap prised, and fully convinced of the honour, the integrity of those who put the pen in our hands. plaintiffs, my Lords, did not consider themselves as dealing with a committee of city lands, whose business it might be to turn every inch of ground to immediate profit. They were dealing with the first corporation of North-Britain; a corporation acting in concert, I may say, with the nation itself. I should not, my Lords, have been surprised although the plaintiffs upon this occasion really had trusted a great deal. When a plan lay upon the table, and the

The

faith of the corporation pledged to the public that this plan was finally adjusted, where lay the trust in con. tracting upon the terms of that plan? or where lay the trust in inrolling themselves as tenants of the city at a certain sum for the present and time coming? I confess, my Lords, I would have inquired no further I should never have thought of examining this act of council; I would have considered it as a form necessary in the procedure of a body corporate, and never suspected that it contained any reservation or alteration of the plan itself, or even a single word express'd or implied contrary to that plan. I mean, my Lords, I would not have suspected that there lay concealed a low device, unworthy the meanest committee of city lands in the nation. I need not my Lords, go far for instances of a contrary and much more honourable conduct, observed not only by bodies politic, but by private proprietors in the environs of this great city. Lincoln's-Inn-fields was planned by the celebrated Inigo Jones, and will ever do honour to the memory of that great architect: the area or contents of this square is indeed of great extent; t .the property of it never was conveyed to any individual, but in terms of the plan it has been faithfully dedicated to its original use, dressed up into pleasure grounds, and left open for the health, the prospect, and convenience of all the proprietors around. Should the representatives of the first undertaker, upon supposition that the property of this large piece of ground remained vested in him, now pretend to raise new buildings, would he not be prevented by every inhabitant? would not each person tell him, that they had a previous and common right over all this ground annexed to their property, which could not be impaired or defeated at any period whatever? and would not every judge, not only grant an injuncApril 1806.

tion against such an attempt, but give judgement for the inhabitants? In vain would the respondents set forth that the area in Lincoln's-Innfields was too great a waste for this great city, and that certain buildings might be erected and persons accommodated without any actual detriment to the old inhabitants in point of health or light if this was allowable, a prodigious sum might be raised by my Lord Grosvenour; he might raise a new line of building in that large square, without shutting up the windows or doors of any part of it; nay, he would leave more light and more space to the former houses than is enjoyed in any street in London; but I dare presume his Lordship never entertained an idea of this kind.

Indeed, so sensible are the corporation of Edinburgh of the extrava gance and injury of their own proposition, that they have made a merit of limiting the chimney tops of the new houses to a level with Prince's Street: but are the plaintiffs to be left tenants at will to them, for the light, the prospect, and conveniences they have purchased? If they are so, it must be their own fault indeed.. This, my Lords, brings me to observe, that if, after all, in the question of right remaining to be tried, it shall appear that the plaintiffs were properly apprised of these acts of council; or, in other words, the different plan there laid down acceded to by them, the action, no doubt, will admit of a different consideration. The respondents, in the mean time, complain that there can be no other positive proof except by reference to their oath. I am of a different opinion, because I see an easy remedy: it is admitted the plaintiffs are men of character and of honour. In the Court of Chancery of this kingdom a party is always intitled to an answer upon oath, without any special reference. I know indeed

that

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