The palace of
Holyrood house stands on the left, as you enter the Canon-gate --
This is a street continued from hence to the gate called Nether
Bow, which is now taken away; so that there is no interruption
for a long mile, from the bottom to the top of the hill on which
the castle stands in a most imperial situation -- Considering its
fine pavement, its width, and the lofty houses on each side, this
would be undoubtedly one of the noblest streets in Europe, if an
ugly mass of mean buildings, called the Lucken-Booths, had not
thrust itself, by what accident I know not, into the middle of
the way, like Middle-Row in Holborn. The city stands upon two
hills, and the bottom between them; and, with all its defects,
may very well pass for the capital of a moderate kingdom. -- It is
full of people, and continually resounds with the noise of
coaches and other carriages, for luxury as well as commerce. As
far as I can perceive, here is no want of provisions -- The beef
and mutton are as delicate here as in Wales; the sea affords
plenty of good fish; the bread is remarkably fine; and the water
is excellent, though I'm afraid not in sufficient quantity to
answer all the purposes of cleanliness and convenience; articles
in which, it must be allowed, our fellow-subjects are a little
defective -- The water is brought in leaden pipes from a mountain
in the neighbourhood, to a cistern on the Castle-hill, from
whence it is distributed to public conduits in different parts of
the city.
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