EDINBURGH, the capital of Scotland, is situated near the south shore of the Firth of Forth, nearly 400 miles from London. It is sur- rounded on all sides, excepting the north, by lofty hills, the town itself standing on three hills or ridges which run parallel to each other from east to west.

At the western extremity of the highest of these hills, on which the old town was originally built, may be seen the Castle, conspicuous on the precipitous rock, towering some 300 feet above the surrounding country.

The origin of the name Edinburgh is traced to the early part of the seventh century, to those happy-go-lucky days when everything was at sixes and sevens, arising from the disturbed con- dition of the country, created by the numerous battles fought by the rival kings of the Saxon Heptarchy.

It is said the Castle to which we have already referred was the occasional residence of the Northumbrian kings, and that during the time of Anglo-Saxon dominion in Lothian, Edwin, who was reigning chief of Northumberland A.D. 627, gave his name to the locality, which was then termed Edwin's burgh, a designation ever after- wards retained.

From Edwin's time the town slowly and gradually increased in size, until ultimately in the fifteenth century it became the national capital, for no better reason we believe than that security could not be guaranteed elsewhere to the person of royalty and to members of the Government against the designs of the nobility.

With such a stronghold in the vicinity, it is no wonder that the Castle became a frequent residence of the Scotch kings, particularly during the stormy period of the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries, and out of gratitude for the protection they received from this " City of Refuge," numerous privileges were conferred upon the borough by them. After this time but slight alteration took place in the dimensions or importance of the town until the latter half of the eighteenth century, when considerable extensions were made on the north and south sides, and some magnificent buildings elected ; since then it has grown rapidly in size and splendour, and is now one of the finest cities in the world, renowned alike for its public buildings, institutions, literature, and historical reminiscences.

Owing to the absence of any manufacture on a largo scale, Edinburgh has not increased in population in anything like the same proportion as Glasgow and other large manufacturing centres in England; nevertheless it has, by its banking establishments, and the diffusion of capital, contributed in a great degree to the progress made in trade and commerce through- out Scotland.

Of the institutions connected with Edin- burgh, it is impossible to pass over without mention, that of the University, -which has so recently attracted the notice of the whole civilized world. The most distinguished men of all countries, in science, art and literature have only lately assembled within the city to attend the rejoicings on the occasion of the celebration of the Tercentenary of the Univer- sity, to do honour to the ceremony, and last, but not least, to receive degrees. The festivities were arranged on a scale worthy of the occasion, ! and of the celebrities collected together.

| The romances of Sir Walter Scott have helped to render the city famous, and have given a great impetus to literature. Hardly a street j exists which does not recall vividly to the I memory some historical events, and all the surroundings appeal strongly to the imagina- ! tion and feelings of visitors to the neighbour- .) hood, while the Advocate's Library contains the largest and finest collection of books in Scotland.

[ Edinburgh has long been noted for its educa- tional establishments, the chief of which is the University already mentioned. The numerous '. free schools, founded and endowed for the maintenance and education of the children of the poor, and the fact that all schools, including the University itself, are open to all (the : smallness of the fees putting it in the power of all except the very poor to avail themselves of the opportunities given), present a system that ! must provoke a thirst for knowledge in every class of the community, a system too that pro- vides in a great measure for the nourishment ! of the body as well as intellectual food for the brain, a want much felt in the education of the poor in England.

The Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Branch of the Royal National Life-boat Institution was formally established in March, 1864. Previously to that date subscriptions had been obtained chiefly through the agency of Mr. Geo. Mathie- s in, manager of the North of Scotland Steam Shipping Company, who had long felt a great interest in the object. Mr. Mathieson having received an appeal from the Committee of the Life-boat Institution, suggesting that more might be done for the cause in the district, convened a meeting of influential citizens of Edinburgh and Leith, and laid the subject before them.

The matter was very heartily taken up, and. a committee composed of some of the leading citizens appointed, among whom were not a few naval officers holding a high position.

From that time to the present very valuable assistance has been rendered by such dis- tinguished officers as Rear-Admiral Sir Wm.

Hope Johnston, Admiral Sir Wm. Ramsay, Rear-Admiral Hay, and last, not least, by Sir Alex. Milne, Bail., Admiral of the Fleet, who has for the last six years kindly acted as chair- man of the branch, and has shown the warmest interest in its prosperity.

The Committee having in various ways given information to the public as to the useful and interesting nature of life-boat work, it is not a matter for surprise that the subject became a popular one in the community; this result was in great measure brought about by the kind and valuable assistance of Mr. H. 31. Ballantyne, the well-known author, who delivered attractive lectures on the life-boat iu various districts of the city, illustrating them by model of the life-boat and the apparatus used in rescuing the perish- ing from shipwreck. As a natural outcome, it was resolved (o provide a life-boat, for which subscriptions were invited ; these flowed in from all quarters. The boys of the city gave their willing help, and perhaps the greatest service was rendered by an association of working men.

The life-boat was procured and named the " Edinburgh and B. M. Ballantyne," and the ladies of Edinburgh subsequently raised an Endowment Fund on its behalf. The boat was publicly exhibited, and launched at St. Mar- garet's Loch, December 8th, 18.66, in tlie presence of a concourse of several thousand spectators, and was soon afterwards stationed at Port Logan, a fishing village on the coast of Wigtonshire at the western side of the Mull of Galloway, where it has been instrumental in saving thirty lives from different wrecked vessels.

A very singular coincidence occurred in con- nection with this life-boat. On the way to its station it was exhibited in Glasgow, Dec. 16, 1866, and among others who went to see the boat was the wife of the master of the barque " Sfrathleven' of that port, accompanied by her children, who put an offering into the sub- scription box by the side of the life-boat.

Exactly one year after, on the 16th Dec., 1867, the captain's vessel was wrecked on the Wig- tonshire coast, and on the morning following he and his crew of fourteen men were rescued by the very life-boat which his wife and children had contributed to support.

Though the presentation of this lifeboat was due almost entirely to the exertions of Mr. Ballautyne, yet the committee of this branch | lent to the movement their hearty approval and | assistance, and were present at the launch.

j An important result of the influence exercised by this Committee has been the receipt of many j handsome legacies left by local residents to the Institution, either direct or through the medium j of the branch. Among these may be mentioned ! the following, viz., that by Miss Downie of I " Appin"of £1000 for providing a life-boat, to be called the "Appin"; that of Mr. David Hay, of Castle Street, Edinburgh, of £1000, for the establishment of a life-boat on some dangerous part of the coast of Scotland; that of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Forbes of Dunsholt, Fife, the share of whose residue accruing to the Institution amounted to £550; and lastly, that of Mr. Patersou of Edinburgh, the most impor- tant of all, who bequeathed the sum of £5657 to be applied to the formation of a fund for relieving the widows and children of men who may lose their lives in the service, and a further sum of £900 for the general purposes of the Institution. The total subscriptions for the past year, together with donations, and two small legacies, amounted to £486 18s. 3d.

The interest thus aroused in Edinburgh was further developed by the International Fisheries Exhibition, held in the city during the spring of 1882 for the purpose of exhibiting all articles connected with, and illustrative of the Fisheries of the World, and among other things included a model of one of the Institution's life-boats, mounted on a transporting carriage, with several articles of a life-boat equipment, lent by the Institution for the occasion.

The death of the first Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Geo. Mathieson, in 1878, was a severe loss to all friends of the life-boat cause; I the Committee are thankful however that in his able successor, Mr. Robt. Sinclair, they have an Hon. Secretary and Treasurer whose heart is I thoroughly in the good work, and who un-sparingly devotes himself to its promotion.