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:TTER XXXVII.-Richmond-Strawberry Hill-Horace Walpole-Deptford-Greenwich Hospital-View from the Observatory--Rural life in England-Irving's misrepresentations-American peasantry-England and the United States compared,

-XXXVIII.—Are the English an intelligent people-Dif-
fusion of learning-Variety of writers-Tra-
vellers Want of taste for the Fine Arts-
University of Oxford-The Royal visit-St.
Mary's College-Happiness of early life,
-XXXIX.-To John D.-Smithfield Reform Meeting-
Hunt-the Ragged Orator-Singular politi-
cal debate--Mathews AT HOME--Miss
O'Neill-Persian Ambassador-Fair Cir-
cassian,

-XL.-Bath--Smollett's satirical observations-
York Springs-Pump Room-King's Bath
-Swindlers-Physicians at Bath—Balti-
more doctors,

-XLI.-Concourse at London-Fashionable season-
the Queen-Conduct of Courtiers-Threat-
ened impeachment of the Queen-Atrocious
villainy of her enemies-State of France-
Splendid Revolution of Spain,

-XLII.-Gothic Structures-Westminster Abbey-
George II.'s Funeral-Tower of London-
Persons executed within its precincts-The
Armouries-St. Paul's Church-View from
the Dome-Lord Nelson and Lady Hamil-
ton,
-XLIII.-Seduction-Public women of London-The
Magdalen,

XLIV.-Manners of Sovereigns-Instances of their
enormities-Court Cringing-Immorality of
the House of Brunswick-George 1. and II.
-Reign of George III-Profligacy of his
Court The Royal Family-Corrupt practi-
ces of the British Government,

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LETTER XLV.-A Day in London--Street population-Shop keepers-Dinner Parties-Evening PartyNight-Tea Gardens-Cellars-Drunkards

-Robberies-Suicide-Beggars,

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-XLVI.-Periodical works-North American Review
-Ministerial writers--Newspapers-Puffs
-Fashionable Literature-Circulating Li-
braries,

-XLVII.-House of Commons-Reporters-Taxes-
The King and the President of the United
States-Ministers-Taxes laid on the Poor
-No liberty in the British Parliament-In-
fluence of corruption on the House of Com-
mons,

-XLVIII.-High and Low Classes-Happiness of the
French Peasantry-Bartholomew Fair-
Vauxhall-Parks-Horse-races--Boxing-

Gaming,

-XLIX.-Old Bailey-Capital Punishments-Dread of
Death no preventive of Crimes-London
Police-Prison Discipline,

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-L.-Women-their Influence on Society-Parallel between English and French LadiesSociety-Old Maids and Gossips-Drums and Routs-Love-Marriages,

-LI.-The Theatre-Eulogy of the Drama-Rise and Progress of the English Stage-Fluctuations of Dramatic Genius-Splendid Illumination of the Theatres-Behaviour of the Audience-Melo drama-Kean-YoungMiss O'Neill-Immorality of the English Comedy-Comic Actors--Munden-Ellis

ton-Jones-Liston-Dowton-Ch. Kemble-Miss Kelly-Miss Foote-Miss Stephens-Crowd at the Doors-Mathews' Country Cousins,

-LII-The Coronation,

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FRANKLIN'S LETTERS

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HIS KINSFOLK.

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LETTER I.

Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and towers!

Edinburgh, November 9, 1818.

On my first entering this city, I was struck with the remarkable contrast between the Old and New Town. The old part of Edinburgh appears to be "blasted with antiquity"-whereas the New Town is really elegant-the houses are all regular, and many of them magnificent; the streets are spacious and extremely well paved, and the public squares would not disparage any city in the world. When I walk in the deep valley of the North Loch, in a dark night, my imagination sometimes transports me into those gloomy forests described in the Arabian Tales, and the lofty edifices at a distance, give me the idea of those fairy enchanted palaces, which spring up before the

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benighted traveller, and invite him to satisfy his hunger and curiosity.

Edinburgh is a city of palaces. The natural grandeur of her situation has excited a kindred enthusiasm in her artists; the spirit of improvement is abroad, and calls forth the productions of architecture and sculpture: the romantic edifices of the old town, and the open and airy splendour of the new, associate with the magnificent scenery of the environs, and make "Auld Reekie" the wonder of Europe.

Previous to 1763, a lake separated the New from the Old Town of Edinburgh. In that year, the North Loch was drained, and the mud removed. At present it has the appearance of a valley, in which there are a few scattered buildings. A mound and a bridge communicate between the Old and New Town, and stretch over the Loch. The coup-d'œil from the bridge, in a fine starry evening is extremely magnificent. The depth and darkness of the valley prevent you from seeing the houses and other objects in the Loch, and you discern nothing but the lights which glimmer in the windows. You fancy that a real lake floats before you, and that her "mirror blue" reflects the starry host with which the firmament is spangled.

The amazing height of the houses in the Old Town of Edinburgh,* attracted my ob

"The extraordinary height of the houses was marked by lights, which, glimmering irregularly along their front, ascended so high among the attics, that they seemed at length to twinkle in the middle sky." Guy Mannering.

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ervation, as soon as I commenced my walks through the city. Many of them are 13 stories high, not to mention the ground floor! In a cloudy day (that is, almost every day!) the tops of the houses appear at a distance to be confounded with the firmament, and the clouds are seen rolling over their roofs. At night, the view of these elevated buildings, when the numberless windows are illuminated, is extremely beautiful.

Opposite to High street, in which these high houses are situated, and on the other side of the Loch, is Princes street, which is the emporium of fashion and elegance. The buildings are all new, constructed of a beautiful gray stone, and arranged with the utmost symmetry. The shops are not inferior to the most splendid magazines of fashion in Bond street, and the hotels are the dearest and the most elegant in Scotland. This long street presents a delightful prospect when illuminated with gas at night. The extensive range of lighted candles, and the brilliant effect of the gas, with the rich and vivid colours in the druggists' windows, produce one of the most magnificent prospects that I ever beheld, and give an idea of "th' immortal lights that live along the sky."

I had not been long in the " Athens of the North," as Edinburgh is gratuitously termed, before I was made sensible of a certain Presbyterian stiffness in the manners of its inhabitants. I was immediately struck with the fu

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