The first sight of Edinburgh, from the Middleton road, is, for an extensive view, very grand. Arthur's Seat, and Salisbury Crags, rise high on the side of the town: the Castle in front; Calton Hill; the Forth; and the Bass in the back ground: all together forming a very grand and extensive prospect. After I left Middleton, I came to the President Dundas's, and near it crossed the South Esk. Again I crossed that river by Dalhousie Castle. At Leswade, I crossed the North Esk River. From Leswade Bridge is a view of Melville Castle, in a thick wood; it is white, and conspicuous; but some buildings, with furious red tiles (stables and washing-houses, I suppose) break, and spoil the view of it.—I would blow up all such vile erections.—It is a sin against nature, thus to disfigure its works, by fiery tiles and bricks, sufficient to set fire to the Glen. I was not at the castle; but these buildings must inevitably spoil the view from it to Leswade bridge and town, which must be extremely pretty, were it not broken by such eye sores.
