There are three meeting houses belonging to the An tiburghcrs, four to the Burghers, three to the Relief, two to the Independents, five to the Baptists. one to the Canieronians, one to the Quakers, one to the Methodists, one to the Bereans, one to the Glassites, one to the Uni tarians. There being only four Jews in Edinburgh, they cannot hold a synagogue.
Edinburgh is the scat of a presbytery of the same name : it is also the place where the Synod of Lothian and Tweddale, and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, meet for ecclesiastical business.
After the edifices devoted to sacred purposes, those which next claim attention are the buildings appropriat ed for some of the judicial establishments aboinyling in this city. A great irregular pile, partly old and partly new, in the Parliament Square, serves for accommo dating the supreme courts of justice. In the rear 1632, a building for reception of the Scottish Parliament was commenced, and finished in 1640, which constitutes a large portion of it This consists of one extensive hall, 122 feet in length by 49 in width, and not less than 40 feet high; the inner roof, of a polygonal figure, of massy oak timbers, ornamented with gilding, and supported by abutments projecting front the wall. There is a very large modern window at one end, besides (ahem at the side for admission of light. It is fitted up with benches for different judges, and accommodation for the public, being now converted to a cowl room; and in a niche there is a statue of white marble of Duncan Forbes of Cullo den, who was long president of the court of session. A stranger would, at first sight, conceive it impossible to conduct business amidst the apparent bustle and confu sion which prevail in this large apartment, called the outer-house. Sometimes four barristers are pleading at a time before four different judges; [atomics are forcing their way through a crowd almost impenetrable, in quest of counsel already too late for impatience in dispatching causes; conversations are carrying on, criers vociferat ing names, and a universal murmur pervading the re motest corner. Yet such is the force of habit, that many may be seen quietly studying their papers, while others are engaged in consultations, or the judge gives delibe rate decisions without the slightest inconvenience.
At each side of the outer-house are two chambers, each about 40 feet square, with a gallery, and a lofty roof, called the inner-house, where the remainder of the supreme civil and criminal court sit in judgment. The court of session, the former of these, consists or fifteen judges, who sit in two divisions since the year 1808; previous to which there was such an accumulatio.1 of business, that the road to justice was totally obstruct ed. Yet a great portion of the evil, perhaps, arose less from the multiplicity of judges called on to decide in each cause, than from the mode in which the procedure was conducted; for had the regulations of court been rigidly enforced, and some skilful, energetic, and up right person been sought out to preside, the court might possibly have remained entire. But there were exam ples of judges retaining papers a whole year in their possession without pronouncing a decision; and after judgment was pronounced. it has been known, that it was allowed to be objected to above thirty times succes sively, for the purpose of delay. Besides the interest of the agent and the client were at direct variance: the advantage of the one consisted in protracting the suit, the safety of the other in bringing it to a close ; and from the combination of these and other causes, the suprr court entirely lost the confidence of the public. The late division of the judges in 1808, has been at•ended with infinite benefit; many excellent regulations h•.ve been successively made, and although others seem olt jectionable front not protecting litigants againstsx pet.se, justice is undoubtedly more speedily and equitably • d ministered. The public confidence is restored, ann if care be taken in thy selection of liberal and enlightened men to fill the scat of justice, it will not likely be again impaired. By a statute, in 1310, no cause, involving a smaller interest than 251., can be brought originally into the court of session, unless by appeal from an inferior judicature; and every cause is first decided by a single judge in the outer-house, on oral or written pleadings. The party dissatisfied may then carry it before either di ision of the inner-house within 21 clays, where all the .