EDINBURGH, (Edinboro), the metropolis of Scotland and one of the finest cities in the British Isles, is built on ridges and hollows that run east and west. It is pictur esquely situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, 47 miles east of Glasgow, and 400 north of London. From the Firth the ground slopes somewhat unevenly upward to the top of the Castle Rock, 438 feet above sea level. The Central Ridge, which constituted the site of the old town, is terminated on the west by the Castle Rock, and by Holyrood Palace on the east. Arthur Sea (822 feet high) overlooks the whole of the eastern and southern part of the city, and between it and the Palace are the elevations known as Salis bury Crags. The new town lies between the old town and the sea. The houses, streets, squares and gardens are all handsome, built of beautifully dressed freestone found in the neighborhood of the city. The principal streets of the new town are Princes street, George street and Queen street, running paral lel with each other.
Geological The geological formation upon which Edinburgh is built is of a very interesting character. The rocks which underlie the town belong to the lowest divisions of the carboniferous system, but here and there in the neighborhood, such as in the rocks of the Pentlands, Blackford Hill, and a portion of Arthur Seat, there are several veins of igneous rock. The district has always been an inter esting one for the geologist, and several writ ers of standing have dealt with the subject, among whom may be named — Hutton, Play fair, Forbes, Millar, McLaren and Geikie.
Principal Buildings, Galleries, Museums, Princes street there are some notable buildings, and on the Mound connecting it with the old town is the National Gallery, while near at hand to the east is the Scott Monument. The old town has suffered very much at the hands of the improver, but there are still "closes,' "lands," and "wynds," which are interesting to the visitor. From the Castle to Holyrood House there is one continuous street, known at different parts as the Lawnmarket, the High street, and Canongate. It is upward of a mile in length, and is frequently termed "The Royal Mile." Among the notable buildings in and around this "Royal Mile" are the Tolbooth Church, the meeting place of the General As sembly of the Church of Scotland; the United Free Church Assembly Hall, Saint Giles' Cathe dral, Parliament House, the Advocates' Library, the Signet Library, and the municipal buildings. The Tron Church is at the junction of South Bridge with the High street. Continuing down the Canongate on the left is the house of John Knox, the great Reformer, while on the right further down is Moray House, once occupied by the Regent Murray, in the garden of which stood, till quite recently, a tree said to have been planted by Queen Mary. In the garden is still existing a summer-house where it is averred the Treaty of Union was signed.
There are other interesting buildings in the Canongate, such as the Tolbooth and Queens berry House. To the north of the "Royal Mile" there are such buildings as the Bank of Scotland in Bank street, and the Scotsman Buildings in North Bridge. From the head of the Canongate a particularly good view can be had of the Calton Hill, with its Nelson Monu ment and the never-to-be-finished National Monument. To the south the public buildings in George IV Bridge are the County Buildings, the Sheriff Court-house, and the Public Library (the latter erected in 1887 at a cost of L50,000, given by Andrew Carnegie; total stock now is 165,000 volumes) ; while in Chambers street there is the Royal Museum of Science and Art, the Heriot Watt College, and the University (q.v.). Near at hand are the Students' Union, M'Ewan Hall, Heriot's Hospital, and the Royal Infirmary, all of which are distinctive buildings. The Castle contains accommodation for 2.000 soldiers, and the Armory has places for 30,000 stands of arms. The regalia of Scotland is kept in an apartment by itself. Another attrac tion to visitors, besides this, is Queen Mary's room, which is visited annually by large num bers. Holyrood Palace and Abbey stand at the east termination of the °Royal Mile," and the former is only now used on the occasion of the visit of the royal commissioner to the gen eral assembly. It was begun by James IV near the end of the 15th century, suffered destruc tion in Hertford's invasion in 1544, with the exception of portions built by James V in 1528; was destroyed by fire during the Cromwellian occupation•in 1650; and the greater portion of the present building dates only from the time of Charles Second. The apartments occupied by Queen Mary are in the northwest corner of the building, and in very nearly the same state as that in which they were left by that unfor tunate princess. The Abbey is supposed to have been founded by King David I in 1128; it suffered at the hands of the English in 1544 and from the iconoclastic zeal of the reformers about 1558; in 1688 the chapel, which had again been set apart for worship in accordance with Roman rites, was completely destroyed by a Protestant mob. Other interesting buildings are the Royal Museum of Science and Art, the National Portrait Gallery and Antiquarian Museum in Queen street; Fettes College, Daniel Stewart's College, and the Cathedral of Saint Mary (Episcopal). Saint George's Church in Charlotte square is a notable modern ecclesias tical building. Along with the University the more prominent educational institutions are the New College, the School of Medicine, Heriot Watt College, Fettes College, the High School, the Academy, Daniel Stewart's College, and George Watson's College. The southern part of the city is modern, but extends now to the foot of the Pentland Hills, including the Braid hills, the golf course of which is one of the best inland courses in Scotland.