The barristers are united in a society, called the Fa culty of Advocates, who have the privilege of pleading in all courts, even in the House of Peers, and can claim exemption from prosecution in any but the supreme court to which they belong. The only exception is in regard to a useful judicial institution, of which we have already treated. Candidates for the gown undergo suc cessive examinations in public and private, and they must produce certificates of an academical education. There are at present 276 advocates enrolled on the list, but not above half the number practise at the bar, and scarcely more than 30 gain a livelihood exclusively by their profession.
The first class of attorneys is denominated clerks, or writers to the signet, because they have the privilege of signing certain writings which pass the king's signet. All must serve a long apprenticeship, and undergo trials of their skill in law, before being admitted to practice. The number is at present 365, most of whom follow the profession. As a safeguard to the public, they are per mitted to charge their clients only at a certain rate, ac cording to a table of fees submitted to and sanctioned by the Court of Session.
Another branch of the law department consists of solicitors united into a faculty, who practice in the su preme court as attorneys; and some whose profession is of a mixed nature, participating of that of advocate and attorney conjoined, who practice in the inferior courts only. \Ve have been unable to ascertain the numbers engaged in the various branches of the law department, but they probably amount to several thou sands.
The medical profession is very celebrated in this city. It consists of two Royal Colleges, the one of physicians, the other of surgeons. Several distinguished foreigners are enrolled among the former ; but there are few phy sicians who practice in Edinburgh. By their charter of incorporation into a college in 1681, and subsequent statute, they were enjoined it to visit all the apotheca ries shops within the city and liberties at least twice a year, and destroy all insufficient and corrupted drugs." The public meetings of the college are held in a beau tiful edifice in George Street, called the Physician's Hall, perhaps unequalled in the city. It is built after the an tique, and is in dimensions 83 feet by 63. The entrance is gained by a flight of steps to a portico, supported by four columns of the Corinthian order; and within is a spacious hall, with a gallery supported by ten fluted columns.
A corporation of surgeons was constituted in Edin burgh so early as the year 1505 ; but by a strange asso ciation, united the barbers of the city, as a thing uni versal in Europe at the time. This incongruous bond was broken; and, in 1657, the surgeons and apotheca ries conjoined in one corporation, more lately formed in to a royal college in 1778. The college consists of many skilful, intelligent, and respectable members, whose fame has materially added to the celebrity of the medical school of Edinburgh.
This city cannot be called a place of trade or manu facture ; it is chiefly supported by persons in the law and medical departments, especially the former, and by families whose children are attending the high school or university, and other branches of education. But the great bulk of the inhabitants are not engaged in produc tive industry, compared with many cities of equal extent. There are numerous manufactures, it is true, but almost all are on an inconsiderable scale, and conducted without the limits of the city.
There are several distilleries in the suburbs and im mediate vicinity of Edinburgh, where great quantities of spirits arc made. Independent of what is exported, there are no less than 1048 shops in the city by which they are retailed, and 555 in the county; that is, 1603 places to supply those who require this pernicious be verage. The consumption is too forcibly demonstrated, by the number of dealers finding it advantageous ; and but for the attendant expense, it is unquestionable, that the demand would still be greater. For a considerable time extensive breweries have been established for the different kinds of malt liquor, some of which is export ed to London. The ale in particular has long been celebrated. Sugars are refined, though not in quan tities; and soap and candles of good quality are made. The preference given to English broad cloths renders the woollen manufacture languid ; and from the exten sive manufactories of Glasgow and Paisley supplying the capital with cotton goods, they cannot be fabricated here equally cheap. But the linen manufacture is flourishing, and that of silks and sarsnets is daily gain ing ground. Between 300 and 400 weavers are em ployed in it ; and beautiful shawls are made, of which the prime cost sometimes amounts to twenty-five gui neas. Quantities of silk stockings are made, but sent to England for dyeing. There is also a small manu factory of fringe and worsted lace. Such manufac tures are greatly encouraged by a board of trustees established in the earlier part of the preceding century. Premiums are there offered for the hest commodities, at a certain price, as the best dozen of shawls at five gui neas each, or the best linen, of an appointed texture, at so much a yard : and after due consideration awarded. But the manufacturer competing, must part with his goods, if any member of the board, or another, is willing to take them at the value, which prevents articles of greater worth than they ought to be from being put in competition for the premium. The tanning.of hides is a large branch of manufacture, and formerly great quantities of shoes were made for exportation. Buttons were also made in quantities, and a small steam engine employed in the different operations of the work ; but we believe it is not carried on at present to any great ex tent.