8. Tailors. This society first applied to the magistrates for their sanction to the laws of the body in the year 1500; but they seem to have been formed into a regular corporation before this period. Subsequent grants, with ample privileges, were conferred upon the tailors by the magistrates, in 1531 and 1584, which were confirmed by king James V. and VI. To this incorporation anciently belonged the superiority and direction of all the tailors within the suburbs of Edinburgh and town of Leith; and they still retain the superiority over those in the more ancient suburbs. The hall where they meet to transact business is in the street called Cowgate.

9. Bakers. The time when this fraternity were erected into an incorporation is unknown. It must have been, however, before the year 1522, as by a grant from the common-council in that year, concerning the grinding of corn at the town mills, they appear to have had a deacon and master. The members of this corporation have the sole privilege of baking bread within the city; but the court of session has lately found that hucksters or grocers may sell bread within the city and liberties, provided it have been baked without the same.

10. Fleshers. The Fleshers or butchers are a very ancient incorporation; but the precise time

of their being established into a society is not with certainty known. The first laws and re

gulations for this body, however, were granted by the magistrates of the city in 1488; which makes it probable that they had not been long formed into a fraternity before that period.

11. Cordiners.-The cordiners or shoemakers were erected into an incorporate body by a charə ter from the town-council in the year 1449. Their charter was confirmed by an additional one in 1586, and received the royal sanction of James VI. in 1598. The hall where this company meet is near the head of the lane called the Horse wynd.

12. Weavers. The weavers of Edinburgh were formed into a fraternity by the magistrates on the 31st January 1475.

13. Waukers. This society seems to have been incorporated by the magistrates of the city about the year 1500. The trade of hatters was conjoined with them in 1672, and they now form one incorporation.

14. Bonnet-makers.-This trade was anciently attached to the incorporation of, waukers; but from these they were separated, and erected into a distinct body by the magistrates, in the year 1530. About the middle of the seventeenth century, by the introduction of the wearing of hats

place of bonnets, this society was nearly dissol ved; but upon an application to the town-council in 1684, the trade of a litster or dyer was united to them, although the incorporation still goes under its former name.

Candlemakers.-The candlemakers form an incorporated trade in Edinburgh, though they have not the privilege of sending a member to the common-council. They lost this privilege in 1582, by not producing their charter and signing the reference made in that year to the arbiters appointed by James VI, at which time the present sett or constitution of the borough was established. The candlemakers, however, possess all the other rights and privileges which are exercised by the incorporated trades.

Such are the bodies from which the magistrates of Edinburgh are elected. The election is conducted in the following manner: A leet or list of six persons is made out by each incorporation, from which number the deacon belonging to that incorporation must be chosen. These lists are then laid before the common-council of twentyfive, who "shorten the leets," by striking out one half of the names from each; and from the three remaining ones the deacon is to be chosen. When this election is over, the new deacons are

presented to the council, who choose six of thei to be ordinary members of their body, and the six deacons of the former year leave their places. The council of twenty-five next proceed to the election of three merchant and two trades counsellors. Leets or lists are then made out, from which the lord provost, dean of guild, treasurer and bailies must be chosen. The candidates for each of these offices are three in number; and the election is made by the thirty members of council, joined to the eight extraordinary council-deacons.

The business of the city is managed by the ordinary council of twenty-five, the eight extraor dinary deacons being only called in on certain occasions, when their number is increased to thirty-three, and the meeting is on this occasion called the extraordinary council. The ordinary council meet every Wednesday for the dispatch of business.

To the town-council are attached four gentlemen of the law, under the name of Assessors, who assist and direct them in their deliberations on difficult or contested cases.

Criminal Court.-The magistrates of Edinburgh hold a court in which are tried all criminal causes that occur within the city and liberties. They have a right to inflict arbitrary punish

ments, and the lord Provost, in certain cases, has a jurisdiction in matters of life and death. But this jurisdiction is not now exercised; the magistrates only, in capital crimes, taking a precognition, or forwarding the business for the supreme

courts.

Bailie Court.-The bailie court tries all causes of debt and civil trespass that occur within the jurisdiction of the city. One bailie only sits at a time; and, being in office for one year, the four bailies sit in this court each three months alternately. Actions to any amount against an inhabitant of Edinburgh can be judged in this court.

Ten Merk Court.-This court is likewise held by the magistrates of Edinburgh for the recovery, in a summary manner, of all petty sums not exceeding ten merks Scots, or 11s. 14 Sterling, ex, cept in the case of servants wages, which can be sued for to any amount. It was instituted as a relief for the poorer class of citizens, who might not be able to enter into an expensive litigation. The whole amount of the expence of a process here does not exceed 8d. Sterling.

Dean of Guild Court.-This court is composed of an officer, called the Dean of Guild, assisted by a council of four members, appointed by the magistrates. It takes cognizance of all the build