History of Leith, Edinburgh

Composed (as was supposed) by King James the fifth,newely corrected according to the original copy.

Was never in Scotland heard or seen,
Such dancing and deray;
Neither at Faukland on the green,
nor Peebles at the play,
As was of Woers as I ween;
at Christs Kirk on a day:
For there came Kittle washen clean,
with her new Gown of Gray,

for more click here

This report begins: ‘Lamentation of George Giechrist, who is to be Executed at Edinburgh, on Wednesday morning the 3d. August instant for the Robbing of the Prince Regent Coach, between Edinburgh and Glasgow, on the 24th. of March 1831.’ This sheet was published by George Craig of Edinburgh. A ‘lamentation’ was an act of expressing grief, regret and perhaps atonement. for more click here

This lamentation begins: ‘PETER HENDERSON, late Letter Stamper in the General Post Office, Edinburgh, and who is to be Executed here on Wednesday the 16th July, 1828, for abstracting Money from and Destroying the Letters.’ This broadside was printed in Edinburgh for William Henry, and was priced at one penny. for more click here

This ballad begins: ”Tis mony makes the mair to go is a saying old and true / And when you’ve go the ready cash, friends will stick like glue, / But when your purse is empty, those friends you thought sincere, / Will proudly turn upon their heels and quickly disapper.’ A note below the title states that this ballad was ‘Sung by Harry Russell, with great success’, and that ‘Copies of this popular song can always be had at the POET’S BOX, Overgaie, Dundee’ for more click here

… and the other suburbs of Edinburgh, for ladies and other women dressed in tartan gowns and white ribbands…for more click here

…in exculpation, the Solicitor- General addressed the Jury for the Crown, and was replied to by Mr Jeffrey.. for more click here

A Full and Particular Account of the Trial & Sentence of JOHN COUNTERFEIT, who was sentenced to be Pillored at the Cross of Edinburgh, on Wednesday, 14th March, 1821, for Willful Imposition, &c. for more click here

“The filth, the nastiness, the nakedness, the drunkenness…the horrible condition of the streets…thousands of miserable, starving, drunken, ignorant, dissolute, poor, forlorn, wretched beings in the midst of what is called a Christian community.” – Reverend Henry Colman describing Edinburgh in 1843. for more click here

Dr Eliane Glaser: This year, Britain’s Jewish community is celebrating the 350th anniversary of Oliver Cromwell’s readmission of the Jews to England. The problem is, Oliver Cromwell didn’t readmit the Jews to England in 1656. To be sure, Menasseh ben Israel, the prominent Amsterdam rabbi, came to visit Cromwell in 1655 to try to persuade him to readmit them, and the Whitehall Conference was called in December of that year to discuss the issue. But the conference ended without reaching a verdict. In March 1656, six members of London’s Jewish community submitted a petition to Cromwell requesting permission to hold services in private without being disturbed by the authorities, and to establish a Jewish cemetery. Cromwell referred this petition to his Council of State, but it was ignored. for more click here