In 1805, a system of police was devised ; but on trial was found to be in many respects a system of ineffici ency and oppression. The obnoxious statute into which it had been embodied was repealed, and, in 1812, a new act, containing a variety of judicious clauses, sub stituted in its place. The sheriff of the county, and ma gistrates of the city, are constituted judges of the offen ces committed within their respective bounds ; and they appoint a superintendant of police, who is fiscal or prosecutor on behalf of the public. A number of com missioners arc named, under whose charge the streets arc cleaned and lighted, and they also take cognizance of other matters connected with the safety and comfort of the citizens. It would be wrong to pass a decided opinion on a system of such short endurance as the present establishment of police; it is undeniable, how ever, that the statute in general is prudently and tempe rately framed ; though a most important object. eccono my, seems to have been totally forgotten. The sum levied from the inhabitants the first year, at the rate of 7} per cent. on the house rents, which is its maximum, was 22,0001. while the charge of the establishment, in cluding some expellees not subject to renewal, was 25.930/.
There are two branches connected with the judicial establishments of the country, which may be noticed here, the Register Office, and the prisons of Edin burgh. The former is probably the most elegant edifice of which the city can boast ; it is appropriated solely for depositation of the records of the kingdom, including writings on which the interests of the individt•d sub ject depends, and was erected after a design of the el der Adams. It stands also in the most favourable si tuation of all others, being north of the North Bridge, and receding forty feet from the street. The is of an oblong figure, 2o0 feet long in front, and TT ob feet broad ; but this is the extrem: breadth, as part of a large circular apartment, termimuing in a dome above, projects front Lebind. 11 C' there is a marble statue of King George III. executed by a female artist, the Hon. :NIrs Dainer. The extremities of the front, and also the middle, project somewhat from the body of the whet e two outer staircases conduct to a land ing-place : but these, by a strange inconsistency, are al v,ra s shut up, and access is gained from behind, by two entrances originally designed as private. There is a small turret at each angle in front ; and the royal arms, executed in a composition, appear in the middle. The interior is divided into two stories, and a sunk story, and two spacious staircases lead to the chambers above. All these throughout the edifice are arched for security against fire, and paved ; they are of various dimensions, but equal in height. The foundation of this edifice was laid in 1774, and it has cost 40.000!. though only half the original plan is completed; nor was that accomplish ed without very great embarrassment, owing to a defi ciency of funds. The total number of chambers was intended to be ninety-seven ; but, in fact, the increase of number is attended only with the convenience, that they are longer of being filled. The quantity of writing re quired for every transaction in Scotland is incredible ; more especially if connected with land, or buildings. The acquisition of all property of this description, how ever inconsiderable in value, requires long and particu lar deeds, as they are called, of conveyance and investi ture ; if it is transferred again, the same must be repeat ed ; and if it then goes to a third person, the whole must be renewed. Every paper given in during a law-suit, must be preserved ; and every transaction of any impor tance, from safety or necessity, enters the record. The great accumulation of writings can thence be better figu red than described. Nay, it may be remarked, that un til lately, the successful litigant was obliged to obtain a copy of every paper in his suit, verbatim, written af ter a certain form, to enable him to avail himself of his advantage. Within these few years, some arrangements
have been made for the better preservation of the records, and publication of the more curious and useful of older date.
There are two prisons in Edinburgh, to which may be added the prison of the Abbey, and one, which we :)clieve is no longer used, in the Calton, and Bridewell. The principal prisons are situated in the High Street, and in the Canongate ; but they have been devised on princi ples little consistent with humanity: there is no place for exercise; no circulation of air ; no conveniences which health and cleanliness demand; and but few separate rooms for prisoners, who pay certain rents, according to the quality of accommodation. Nevertheless, it is not to be denied, that the unfortunate debtor in Scotland enjoys eminent privileges; nay, in regard to criminals, the li berty of the subject is not to be encroached upon, ex cept in so far as the public security requires. Almost from the day of confinement, the incarcerating creditor may be compelled to provide an aliment for his debtor ; and after a month's imprisonment, the debtor may ob tain his liberty, by surrendering all his property. Every person accused, can insist on speedy trial, and force it to a conclusion within 100 days. Should the judges require farther information, however, he may be re manded to prison. Thus, in the strictest view, there is perhaps less necessity for conveniences, than where pro tracted conlin.:ment from unrelenting creditors may ensue ; and it is grateful to reflect, that there is a pro gressive amelioration in the state of prisoners. The prison in the High Street was originally erected for the joint purpose of accommodating the parliment of Scotland, and the supreme courts, and for the restraint of debtors and malefactors : the last has been its only use since 1641. The better class of debtor s are con fined in the Canongate jail, which was built in the reign of James VI.; and sometimes, ex slzeciall gratia, indi viduals sentenced to confinement by the Court of Jus ticiary'; as in a late instance of a naval officer, who unfortunately killed a seaman. On very recently in specting the prison in the High Street, we found, not withstanding all its disadvantages, that much attention was paid to the comforts of the prisoners. Cleanliness was particularly studied ; all the ventilation was given which the edifice would admit, and the prisoners were treated with great humanity. Their number amount ed to forty ; but the average throughout the year is about forty-five ; of these not above a fourth were debtors, the remainder being confined on accusation of crimes, or as a punishment for committing them. They were divided into two separate and distinct classes, and kept in opposite quarters of the prison ; a judicious arrangement, to prevent the contamination of morals. The men and women arc also kept in separate apart ments, extremely various in size ; but among the larger is the condemned hold, whither criminals are con ducted after sentence of death, and if requisite, chained to a massy iron bar, rivetted to the floor. Here also is a strong iron cage, of small dimensions, which might be employed for the most daring and refractory. Au incarcerating creditor pays sixpence per pound on the amount of the debt, for which his debtor is committed: and a freeman of the city pays two-pence a night of jail fees, which are doubled to all others. A clergyman performs divine service in the lobby or hall of the pri son, for which he has a salary of 80/. a year. The prin cipal jailor, who is called Captain of the jail, deserves much commendation for his exertions to mitigate the hardships of confinement ; but the comfort of the pri soners might be greatly promoted, by a very trilling ex pence in further ventilation and proper soil pipes. The foundation of a new prison was lately laid adjoining to the Parliament House, hut, from the apparent want of room, one is to be erected on the Calton Hill fin- debt ors.