reft and hang the minifter who figned orders evidently arbitrary, illegal, and profcribed by the people. But his advice did not prevail. It was during his leifure in the country, where he was in the habit of paffing two-thirds of the year, that he compofed, in the fummer of 1788, towards the end of the ministry of Cardinal Lorenie, his Vues fur les Moyenes d' Exécution, dont les Repréfentans de la France pourront difpofer, in 1789, (Views of the Executive Means which are at the Difpofal of the Reprefentatives of France, in 1789.) with this infcription, calculated to fhew his intention: "We may elevate our defires to the extent of our rights; but our projects must be measured by our means." This pamphlet was delivered to the printer, and was advancing towards publication, when, on his return to Paris, he thought fit to fufpend its appearance. The poJitical queftions which interefted and employed the minds of all France, feemed already to have changed its nature; it was forced to yield to the modifications which the pretenfions of the different claffes had urged. It was no longer the whole nation, defirous of flerting its rights against the abfolute power of royalty; it was the nobility, ever ready to form combinations; who, taking advantage of the re-union and difpleafure of the notables, had no other aim than that of urging their own intercfts against thofe of the people, with the hope, likewife, of caufing the minifter to confirm their account, as well as their new pretenfions, fimply by put ting him in fear. This was the circumftance which led Sieyes, to write his Effai fur les Privileges, (Effay on Privileges,) and immediately afterwards, his work entitled, Qu'est-ce que le Tiers Etat, (What is this Third Eftate?) It is eafy, by comparing thefe two publications with the former, to fhew how different, though not oppofite, their fpirit is to that in which he traced his Vues fur les Moyenes d' Exécution. Thefe three pamphlets appeared immediately following each other, at the end of 1788, and the beginning of 1789. The Tiers-Etat of Paris, which the miniflers had thought fit to convene very late, had to nominate twenty deputics to the States General. It was agreed by the electoral affembly, that neither a noble nor a prieft fhould be t elegible. After the nineteenth fcrutiny, the vote of exclufion was refcinded, and the majority of votes, at the p laft ballot, were in favour of the author of Qu'est-ce que le Tiers? The States General were affembled, and feveral weeks were confumed in vain difputes refpecting the verification of the powers. The public, all France, expected, with impatience, the first efforts of the reprefentatives of the people. Sieyes dared to cut the cable which full confined the veffel near the fhore, He thought it became him to endeavour to put in practice the principles which had made him known, and procured him the truft he poffeffed; opinions which became every day more decidedly thofe of the people at large. No man has more openly and decidedly fhewn his manner of thinking, and the principles of his conduct. He spoke with fuccefs to the National Affembly, on the 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, and 23d of June. But our prefent intention is not to give a detail of fuch objects as come under the province of hiftory, We may diftinguish the political career, of Sieyes into three intervals; from the opening of the States General to that of the Convertion. The first dates from the day wherein he uttered thefe words :-" They wish to be free; but they know not how to be just.” Thefe words efcaped him-and they were received by the car of passion. Hatred and the fpirit of faction was earneftly difpofed to preferve them: and falfehood added its commentaries. Under their united efforts, that which was improperly called his influence, difappeared. In the fufpicions cxhibited around him, he obferved the work of Ca calumny. His determination was foon occupied the Affembly, though it is promade; to neglect the remarks of folly; per to fay, if for no other purpofe than to prefit by this miftruft, by diminishing that of accuracy, that none of his plans his labours; to appear feldom in the were adopted without mutilation, and a tribune, for which, in other refpects, mixture of other matter, more or lefs be found himself little fuited; but he foreign to the object. A part of his continued to work ufefully in the com- projects and memoirs has remained bemittees, and the more fo, as lie did not hind, if it be not loft, among the pathere met with a kind of obftacle he pers of the committees, and by himfelf found it impoffible to combat ; namely, they are fcarcely ever remembered. that of treachery, applauded and fupported by thofe very men who have the greateft intereft in unmasking it. In this manner he bore a more or leis confiderable fhare in the great labours and important 'queftions which This compofed the fecond period of his political life, lefs active, lefs public, but often as laborious as the former, and which ended in June 1791. (To be continued.) TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 116. IN addition to what was faid in The following is the progrefive inour haft number, a correfpondent his creafe of Edinburgh, at the annexed favoured us with the following particu- periods: lers refpecting the population of Edinburgh: "From a furvey made from houfe to house in 1791, with the utmost exactness, the number of families were found to be 18,654, and the number of inhabitants 84,886, including the whole of the parish of St Cuthbert, the caflle and hofpitals, which is nearly 4 to a family. So that both Mr Maitland and Mr Arnot are greatly above the truth: Dr Price calculates the number of each family in Edinburgh only at 46 which is not far wrong. Of 12 coumry parithes, taken at random from the Statistical Account of Scotland, foase of them in manufacturing counties, 4 was found to be the average Dumber of each family. From the above furvey, in 1791, the number of a family, in the nine parifhes within the Old City, was found to be In 1747 45,320 1755 57,220 So that in 50 years this city has almost doubled the number of its inhabitants." We do not confider it neceffary to ftate particularly the revenue and expen diture of the city of Edinburgh. The proper revenue of the city confifts partly of the duties or taxations exigible by the town council; fuch as the impoft on wines; the fhore-dues at Leith; the duties collected at the poul'try, fith, meal, and other markets; the annuity, or minifters itipend; partly of their landed property, fuch as Leith and Bruntsfield Links, Calton-hill, and Meadows, houfes and fhops in Edinburgh and Leith; partly of their feuduties, as thofe on the mills of the Wa ter of Leith, of the houfes in the New Town, &c.; partly of what is paid for private water pipes. The proper ievenue of the city confifts of thefe, and many other articles. Its grofs produce (not reckoning here the appropriated revenue) is at prefent about L. 10,000 Sterling yearly, and a gradual increafe of it may be expected. Z 2 What What may be mentioned as the cu riofities to be attended to, are the College library and mufeum: the Advocates' library, where, befides the extenfive collection of books of upwards of 30,000 volumes, exclufive of manufcripts, already noticed, is to be feen an entire mummy in its original cheft. This was purchased by the late Earl of Morton, Lord Register of Scotland, at L. 300 Sterling, and was by him prefented to the Faculty. They are alfo poffeffed of a fine collection of coins and medals to the number of between 3 and 4000. Thefe are partly Greek, Roman, Saxon, Scottish, and English. Mr Weir's museum is alfo worthy of attention. His collection of birds and animals is extensive, and in excellent prefervation. He confiders himself as the first who has brought the art of preferving fifhes to perfection. Here are alfo to be feen feveral good fpecimens of petrifactions, fhells, and minerals. The antiquarian fociety are alfo poffeffed of a fine collection of coins, and many curious relicts of antiquity. The buildings occupied by the Antiquarian Society, and Weir's mufeum, were formerly private houses. Our plan does not admit of a particular de fcription of the buildings, occupied by different focieties, though feveral of thefe are remarkable for elegance and beauty; fuch as the Phyficians' hall, after a defign of the late Mr James Craig, founded in November 1775; and the Excife-office, formerly the refidence of Sir Laurence Dundas. In a capital, like Edinburgh, which is making rapid improvement, and in a country where trade, agriculture, and commerce are so much on the increase, the manners of the people cannot be stationary, nor their ftyle of living long the fame. The higher ranks fpend, now and then, a portion of their time in London, and fall into the fashion of that metropolis. As the inferior ranks always copy the manners of their fuperiors, thefe are gradually communicatcd from one circle to another, till a change is produced in the whole community; wealth affording the means, luxury creeps in apace. We hope to be excufed for contrasting our fhort account of the prefent manners, with that given by an Englishman who vifited Edinburgh in 1598, as quoted by Mr Arnot. 66 Myfelf," fays he, "was at 2 knight's houfe *, who had many fervants to attend him, that brought in his meat, with their heads covered with blue caps, the table being more than half furnished with great platters of porridge, each having a little piece of fodden meat; and, when the table was ferved, the fervants fat down with us; but the upper mess, instead of porridge, had a pullet, with fome prunes in the broth. And I observed no art of cookery, or furniture of houfhold-ftuff, but rather rude neglect of both, though myself and my companions, fent from the governor of Berwick, about bordering affairs, were entertained after their beft manner. The Scots, living then in factions, ufed to keep many followers, and fo confumed their revenue of victuals, living in fome want of money. They vulgarly eat hearth cakes of oats, but, in cities, have alfo wheaten bread, which, for the most part, was bought by courtiers, gentlemen, and the best fort of citizens. "They drink pure wines, not with fugar as the English; yet, at feasts, they put comfits in the wines, after the French manner; but they had not our vintners fraud to mix their wines. I did never fee nor hear, that they have any public inns with figns hanging out; but the better fort of citizens brew ale, their ufual drink, (which will diftemper a ftranger's body); and the fame citizens will entertain paffengers upon acquaintance or intreaty. Their bed-steads were then like cupboards in the wall, with doors to be opened and fhut at pleasure, fo as we climbed up to our beds. They ufed but one fheet, open at the fides * Morifon's itinerary, part 3. b. 3. c. 4. and and top, but close at the feet*, and fo French manner, fhort cloaks like the doubled.-When paffengers go to bed, Germans, French hoods, and large The their cuftom was to prefent them with falling bands about their necks. a fleeping cup of wine at parting. The unmarried of all forts did go bare-headCountry people and merchants ufed to ed, and wear fhort cloaks with most drink largely the gentlemen fomewhat clofe linen fleeves on their arms, like more fparingly; yet, the very courtiers, the virgins of Germany. The inferior by night meetings, and entertaining fort of citizens wives, and the women any ranger, ufed to drink healths not of the country, did wear cloaks made without excefs; and, to fpeak truth of a coarfe ftuff, of two or three cowithout offence, the excess of drinking lours, in checker work, vulgarly called was then far greater in general among Plodan . To conclude, in general, the Scots than the English. Myfeif they would not at this time be attired being at the court, invited by fome gen- after the English fashion, in any fort; demen to fupper; and being 'forewarn- but the men, especially at court, follow ed to fear this excefs, would not pro- the French fashion; and the women, mife to fap with them, but upon con- both in court and city, as well in dition that my inviter would be my cloaks, as naked heads, and clofe fleeves protection from large drinking, which on the arms, and all other garments, I was many times forced to invoke, be- follow the fashion of the women in ing courteously entertained, and much Germany." provoked to caroufing; and fo for that tine avoided any great intemperance. Remembering this, and having fince obferved, in my converfation at the English court, with the Scots of the better fort, that they spend great part of the night in drinking, not only wine, bat even beer; as myself cannot accufe them of any great intemperance, fo I Cannot altogether free them from the imputation of excefs, wherewith the popular voice chargeth them. About 20 or 30 years ago, the generality of the people of Edinburgh were in ufe to dine at two o'clock. Shopkeepers were wont to lock their fhops at one for dinner, and open them again at two o'clock; bufinefs was attended to by all ranks after dinner: a simple dinner, confifting of one or two plain dishes, was the ufual fare; wine was feldom or never feen at the tables of the middle ranks. The intercourfe of the fexes was kept up chiefly at tea vi"The husbandmen in Scotland, the fits at five o'clock. The people of fervants, and almost all the country, Edinburgh were exemplary for their did wear coarfe cloth made at home, regular attendance at church. of Pub grey or fky-colour, and flat blew lic places were little frequented; exCaps, very broad. The merchants in cepting at the theatre, the middling Cities were attired t in English or ranks feldom appeared at any pubFrench cloth, of pale colour, or min- lic amusements. Families had, in gegled black and blue. The gentlemen neral, only one or two maid fervants; did wear English cloth or filk, or light a livery fervant was, we believe, udfluffs, little or nothing adorned with known in the middling ftation. The filk lace, much lefs with lace of filver wages of a maid fervant, in general, or gold. And all followed at this time was from L. 3 to L. 4 a-year, and thefe the French fashion, especially in court. dreifed in red cloaks or tartan plaids; Gentlewomen, married, did wear clofe they feldom wore thoes but on Sunupper bodies, after the German manner, days. The taverns and lodging-houses with large whale-bone fleeves, after the were poor and dirty; there was no fuch *The fame prevails univerfally in Scot- place as a hotel. Lnd at this day. + Morilon's itinerary, part 3. b. 3. c. 4. i. c. Plaiding, or plaids, At were very few inftances (if any) of a citizen of Edinburgh keeping his carriage 20 years fince; now there are many. At this period the inhabitants of Edinburgh were greatly hampered for lodging; people of quality and fashion were obliged to fubmit to fmall, dull, and unhealthy habitations; as a proof The lodgings, particularly of the of this, it is only neceffary to mention, New Town, and other newly erected that, even fo far back as the 1783, the buildings, are elegant and healthy. In houfe which, in 1763, the then Lord general, furniture is to be feen corref Justice Clerk inhabited, was poffeffed ponding to the boufes. Though the by a French teacher; the Lord Prefi- wages of fervants have been much the dent Craigie's houfe by a rouping-wife, fame thefe twenty years, yet their apor falefwoman of old furniture; and pearance and drefs is greatly improved; Lord Dunmore's houfe was left by a now, perhaps, thefe are on the other chairman for want of accommodation; extreme. Till within these few years, and a houfe lately occupied by one of umbrellas were unknown. the prefent Lords of Seffion, is now poffeffed by a taylor. LEITH. LEITH, being the fea-port of Edisburgh, falls next to be noticed. It is a populous, and thriving town, fuppofed but the houfes are in general indifferent, and the ftreets narrow and dirty. The harbour is formed by a ftone pier, which has been lately much improved. When finifhed, according to the plan lately made out, the harbour will be useful and commodious. Ships can only entér the harbour at full tide; but the roads of Leith, afford moft excellent anchoring ground at all times, for flips of any fize. Of late the change is alfo, in every other respect, remarkable. The tables of the middling ranks not only to contain about 14.000 inhabitants; exhibit varieties of difhes, but wines are almost universally drank; and when a party goes abroad to dine, there they alfo fpend the afternoon. It is much to be regretted that the ladies are fo much neglected in thefe parties; the gentlemen, in general, preferring the bottle to the drawing-room. That foftnefs and elegance of manners, which can only be acquired in the company of ladies, is much on the decline. The hour of dinner now is 4, and often 5 o'clock, and business is but feldom attended in the evening. Sunday is now the principal day for feeing company; of course the churches are but badly attended. The drefs of people of fashion was coftly and elegant; it was account ed abfolutely necefiary to be in drefs at a public place. This part of ceremony is much given up, and people go to af femblies, plays, and concerts, much in the fame way as they go to dinner. The ladies, ftiil, however, attend more to drefs; many good confequences might be figured to enfue, were the gentlemen equally attentive to this part of ceremony. Hofpitality is a leading feature of the inhabitants. The lower ranks may, with justice, be charged with intemperance, and this is much owing to the cheap price of whisky. There Befides a very frequent intercourf with London, the trade of Leith is rá the Baltic, to the different ports of Germany in the eaft feas, and to Holland; to Spain, France, Portugal, and the Mediterranean, for wines, fruits, &c. and for fome years palt, the Wett India trade has been fuccefsfully attempted*. The making of glafs, foap, and carper * From the Statistical Account, the trade of Leith, from the 14th November 1795 ta the 13th November 1787, appears to be es follows: Foreign. English. Scotch. Total 17. 24 252 4 92 .27 Ships |