Bridewell is a spacious modern building, standing in a very conspicuous situation on the Calton Hill. It was founded in 1791, and opened for the reception of petty offenders in the year 1796. The expellee of its erec tion was defrayed by an assessment on the inhabitants of the city and county, so judiciously apportioned as to prove no burden, and an aid of 5000/. from government. In addition to the petty offenders sent here, the commis sioners who manage it, are authorised, by a recent sta tute, to fit up apartments for those unfortunate females labouring under disease, which renders it prudent to separate them from the mass of society. The body of this edifice approaches a semicircular figure: it consists of five stories, containing a number of cells ; and the governor's house is so placed, that he can see all that goes on within them, and that in concealment from the prisoners. There are thirteen apartments for the pur pose of labour in each story, with a grating in front, and looking into an inner court. The bedchambers look to the opposite direction, and are lighted by a long narrow window with glass, opening on pivots : each is about eight feet long by seven in breadth, and is provi ded with an iron bedstead, a straw mattrass, and a Bible. Wood is excluded in the structure of the edifice, except for doors to the apartments. Prisoners, on being re ceived, arc clothed in a costume peculiar to the place; and their own clothes, after being cleaned, arc reserved to be restored to them at the time of dismissal. Their food consists of porridge, beer, and broth ; and those who are industrious, may procure an enlarged allow ance, together with bread. The sole employment of the convicts is spinning by the women, in which many excel, thus proving the industrious habits originally im planted in the people of Scotland; and the men pick oakum, or are sometimes employed in digging a gar den annexed to the place. Both sexes are allowed pay ment for their work at a small rate, which is neverthe less still a stimulus to industry ; but the expence of their maintenance is deducted. The whole house is under excellent management; and prisoners, except for the infamy, find it a lighter punishment to be sent there a second time than at first.
There are an excise-office and a custom-house in this city, not far from each other; both of which were ori ginally built by private gentlemen for their own accom modation. The former is a neat plain edifice, standing in St Andrew's Square, receding from the street. The other is inferior in appearance, and stands on lower ground, in London Street. A great deal of business is done in these offices, particularly in the former.
Having described the principal buildings, and their uses, which, in a civil light, arc the concern of the com munity at large, we shall now say a few words on the charitable institutions of this city, and then proceed to consider the literary establishments.
These institutions are either for the relief of the sick and infirm, for the education of unprotected youth, or for the poor and aged. That on the largest and most im portant scale is the Royal Infirmary, which is a spacious building, near the University, consisting of a main body 210 feet in length, by 36 wide, and two wings, 74 feet long, by 24 in breadth. A statue of George the Second, in a Roman dress, stands in a niche in the front, with an inscription on either side, "I was naked, and yc clothed me ;"—" I was sick, and ye visited me." The building is laid out in different wards; and there is a large room at the top, lighted from above, wherein operations are performed; hot and cold baths below; and cells for the restraint of persons insane. A spacious court, where a centinel is always posted, fronts the whole. This institu tion is now under a system of management, which meets with much approbation: it is attended by two ordinary physicians, and six surgeons, the two senior of whom take charge of the patients and operations. An exact register is kept of the different diseases, their progress, and symptoms; and, as the students at the university have an opportunity of attending the Infirmary, it 'may be said to constitute a medical school of itself. The dif ferent patients are classed according to the diseases with which they are afflicted ; and two wards arc allotted to the professor of clinical surgery in the University, on the cases of which he delivers lectures. The Infirmary can accommodate 250 patients at a time, or a gt eater number on urgent occasions; and about 2000 individuals are admitted yearly. Of these, between 95 and 110 die; vo that the average of deaths scarce exceeds the propor •;on of one to twenty; which is extremely small, consi Bering the number of desperate cases which must con stantly occur. Patients are admitted on recommenda
tion of respectable persons, who engage, in event of their decease, to become liable for the funeral charges. The funds of this institution are partly certain, and partly c.t sual; and the expenditure is dependent on the price of commodities, and the number of patients in particular years; but the charges, at an average, do not exceed 31. sterling for the relief and maintenance of each, which is a satisfactory, proof of the mode in which the funds are administered.
Queensberry House, a large old mansion in the Ca nongate, has lately been acquired by government, and converted to a military hospital exclusively.
A lying-in hospital, formerly a private dwelling-house, in Park Place, is appropriated for the reception of fe males in indigent circumstances, who are there attend ed and maintained until recovery. In the year 1776, a public dispensary was planned by Dr Duncan, senior, professor of the theory of physic, which has been of great utility in affording advice, and supplying medicines to the poor. Numerous patients arc relieved, and ac counts of the progress of the different diseases are pre served. The Dispensary stands in North Richmond Street.
The principal hospital in Edinburgh for the mainte nance and education of youth, owes its origin to the be nevolence of George Heriot, jeweller to King James VI. who died the year preceding that monarch. After va rious interruptions, his intentions were fulfilled, by com pletion of the edifice since called by his name, in 1650, and at an expence of 30,0001.; a very large sum at that period. Instead of being then applied to its original pur pose, Oliver Cromwell having taken possession of the city of Edinburgh, converted it into a military hospital ; but General Monk, several years after, in 1659, at re quest of the managers, agreed to withdraw his troops. This is a great quadrangular edifice, of irregular Gothic architecture, with a court within, and a well in the cen tre. On one side of the court is a statue of the found er, which is carefully decorated with flowers on the an niversary of his birth, when all the objects of his bene Nolence, walk in procession to the Greyfriars' church itt the neighbourhood, to hear public sere ice; on which oc casion the magistrates of the city are present. Each side of the building is 162 feet long, and the court within 94, both being square. There are 200 windows, almost all of which, to gratify one of the executors of the found er, are ornamented with differ:mt devices ; and the high angles of the edifice are crowned by turrets. The cha pel is rather more than 61 feet by 24, and paved with black and white marble. There arc different schools; apartments for the governor and attendants; and a kitch en, which was partly fitted up under the inspection of Count Rumford, (luring Lis residence in this country. The situation of Heriet's Hospital is extremely fits (Jura ble : it stands in the middle of a small field, with sumo fine old trees around it : on the north it communicates with the city, though quite detached from all other buildings ; and a path from the south leads to the coun try. The purpose of the endowment is for the mainte nance and education of iedigent children, the sons of the burgesses and freemen of Edinburgh; and the numb( I'S depend on the state of the funds, conjoined with applica tions for admission. At first only 39 s ere recci‘t d, in the year 1659; in 1753 there 130; in 1773, 110; but now, in July 1'814, there c.re no less than 175. The iiverage ex peni.e of maintaining each, including the ne cessary expenditure of the institution, is about 481. year ly. On youths leaving the hospital to follow trades, 501. is paid as apprentice-fee for them ; and those attending a university, with the view of preparing themselves for learned professions, are allowed a bounty of 1201. Thus, there is much liberality practised to promote their e 1 fa r e . The funds of this hospital are ample; and, as a large proportion consists in land in the immediate vici nity of Edinburgh, they have increased vvonderlully of late, and arc likely to augment still farther. At present, the annual revenue is reputed to be about 85001. Re cent reforms have greatly improved the whole establish ment : the salary of a treasurer newly appointed, is raised to 5001., which is found to be more economical than un der former arrangements, permitting him to furnish cer tain necessary articles for common use.