colonnades on either side of the street are generally much admired by English strangers. It was upon entering this street, and contemplating the Calton Hill before him, that George IV. exclaimed, in royal rapture, "How superb!" Still advancing in the same direction, we reach the stair leading to the Calton Hill, from the top of which may be seen, in the churchyard across the street, the circular tower erected as a monument to David Hume the Historian. In the same churchyard stands an obelisk erected in 1845 to the memory of Muir, Palmer, Skirving, Gerrald, and Margarot, who suffered banishment for their efforts in the cause of popular freedom in 1794. However worthy the object, it may well be questioned whether human ingenuity could have devised a structure worse fitted for such a site, or more uncongenial to the surrounding architecture. The GAOL is immediately to the east of the churchyard, and a little farther along, in the same direction, is BRIDEWELL. These institutions are now consolidated into one prison. Strangers are admitted only when accompanied by a member of the Prison-Board.

Upon the left hand, in ascending the second flight of steps to the hill, is the graceful MONUMENT to DUGALD STEWART, a reproduction, with some variations, of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates. For the design of this monument, Edinburgh is indebted to the classical taste of Mr. Playfair. Close by are THE OBSERVATORY, and MONUMENT to PROFESSOR PLAYFAIR. The unshapely building, occupying a prominent position a little to the west, is

B

the OLD OBSERVATORY. Upon the summit of the hill stands NELSON'S MONUMENT, a structure more ponderous than elegant, "modelled exactly after a Dutch skipper's spy-glass, or a butter-churn," but which, though totally destitute of grandeur of design, becomes impressive from its magnitude and elevated site. The prospect from the top of the monument is very fine; the admission-fee is threepence. Near Nelson's Monument are the twelve columns of the

NATIONAL MONUMENT, a structure intended to commemorate the heroes who fell at Waterloo. The splendour of the projected building (which was to be a literal reproduction of the Parthenon) was worthy of so patriotic a cause, but, unfortunately, the architectural ambition of the projectors was far in advance of the pecuniary means at their disposal,

The Modern Athens. By a Modern Greek. London, 1825.