DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0290
278
EDINBURGH.
Letter XXVI IT.
living present. As we drove along my kind companion drew my
attention to every point in any way connected with Walter Scott's
' Heart of Mid-Lothian.' Few buildings, however, so much
attracted my notice as that of Heriot's Hospital, which, from its
four grand corner towers, I at first mistook for the ancient citadel
of the town. For a building of the 17th century (1628-1660), it
has a very ancient aspect. The name of Heriot, however, jeweller
to King James VI., rose high in my estimation, as I learnt that
this building was dedicated to the education and advancement of
a number of poor boys. Altogether I was most gratefully im-
pressed by the number of benevolent institutions of various kinds
in Edinburgh, the grandest and most recent of which is the hos-
pital erected by the will of one Mr. Donaldson— a printer, who died
in 1830—which lies at a short distance from the city. This build-
ing, which has been erected by Playfair the architect, at a cost
of 200,000/., is of such extent and elegance, that I took it at first
sight for some royal palace. Nor, while I admire the benevolence
that prompts such foundations, must I overlook the fact that it is
sometimes at the expense of the natural heirs of the princely donors.
Within the city also there are numerous stately buildings which
do honour to modern architecture, especially the University,
erected 1789, from a design by Robert Adams. The portico of
four Doric columns, with shafts 26 ft. long, in one piece of granite,
leads into a magnificent quadrangular court, 358 ft. by 255 ft,
enclosed by buildings of the finest materials and workmanship. As
regards the interior, the great College Library is, in point of pro-
portion and splendour of fitting up, one of the grandest rooms I
have ever seen. Among the MSS. with miniatures, I was struck
by the following :—■
A Breviary, octavo, imperfect at the end; written in one
column in a beautiful minuscule letter. Judging from the border
decorations, and from the saints in the calendar, of English origin ;
from text and style of art, about the date 1420-1430. The few
pictures occupying a whole page are still treated in that ideal
taste which came into vogue about the middle of the 14th century.
The technical part is slight but skilful; the grounds coloured.
A Breviary, folio, presented by Dr. Thomas Douglas in 1679 ;
a large and full minuscule letter, in one column. Judging from
border decorations, and the character of some pictures introduced
in initials, also executed in England about 1430-1440.
EDINBURGH.
Letter XXVI IT.
living present. As we drove along my kind companion drew my
attention to every point in any way connected with Walter Scott's
' Heart of Mid-Lothian.' Few buildings, however, so much
attracted my notice as that of Heriot's Hospital, which, from its
four grand corner towers, I at first mistook for the ancient citadel
of the town. For a building of the 17th century (1628-1660), it
has a very ancient aspect. The name of Heriot, however, jeweller
to King James VI., rose high in my estimation, as I learnt that
this building was dedicated to the education and advancement of
a number of poor boys. Altogether I was most gratefully im-
pressed by the number of benevolent institutions of various kinds
in Edinburgh, the grandest and most recent of which is the hos-
pital erected by the will of one Mr. Donaldson— a printer, who died
in 1830—which lies at a short distance from the city. This build-
ing, which has been erected by Playfair the architect, at a cost
of 200,000/., is of such extent and elegance, that I took it at first
sight for some royal palace. Nor, while I admire the benevolence
that prompts such foundations, must I overlook the fact that it is
sometimes at the expense of the natural heirs of the princely donors.
Within the city also there are numerous stately buildings which
do honour to modern architecture, especially the University,
erected 1789, from a design by Robert Adams. The portico of
four Doric columns, with shafts 26 ft. long, in one piece of granite,
leads into a magnificent quadrangular court, 358 ft. by 255 ft,
enclosed by buildings of the finest materials and workmanship. As
regards the interior, the great College Library is, in point of pro-
portion and splendour of fitting up, one of the grandest rooms I
have ever seen. Among the MSS. with miniatures, I was struck
by the following :—■
A Breviary, octavo, imperfect at the end; written in one
column in a beautiful minuscule letter. Judging from the border
decorations, and from the saints in the calendar, of English origin ;
from text and style of art, about the date 1420-1430. The few
pictures occupying a whole page are still treated in that ideal
taste which came into vogue about the middle of the 14th century.
The technical part is slight but skilful; the grounds coloured.
A Breviary, folio, presented by Dr. Thomas Douglas in 1679 ;
a large and full minuscule letter, in one column. Judging from
border decorations, and the character of some pictures introduced
in initials, also executed in England about 1430-1440.