or, according to modern phrase, Parliament Square, and
occupied the buildings intended for the accommodation of the Scottish Estates.
This edifice, though in an imperfect and corrupted style of architecture, had
then a grave, decent, and, as it were, a judicial aspect, which was at least
entitled to respect from its antiquity. For which venerable front, I observed,
on my last occasional visit to the metropolis, that modern taste had
substituted, at great apparent expense, a pile so utterly inconsistent with
every monument of antiquity around, and in itself so clumsy at the same time and
fantastic, that it may be likened to the decorations of Tom Errand the porter,
in the Trip to the Jubilee, when he appears bedizened with the tawdry finery of
Beau Clincher. Sed transeat cum coeteris erroribus.
    The small quadrangle, or Close, if we may presume still to give it that
appropriate, though antiquated title, which at Lichfield, Salisbury, and
elsewhere, is properly applied to designate the enclosure adjacent to a
cathedral, already evinced tokens of the fatal scene which was that day to be
acted. The soldiers of the City Guard were on their posts, now enduring, and now
rudely repelling with the butts of their muskets, the motley crew who thrust
each other forward, to catch a glance at the unfortunate object of trial, as she
should pass from the adjacent prison to the Court in which her fate was to be
determined. All must have occasionally observed, with disgust, the apathy with
which the vulgar gaze on scenes of this nature, and how seldom, unless when
their sympathies are called forth by some striking and extraordinary
circumstance, the crowd evince any interest deeper than that of callous,
unthinking bustle, and brutal curiosity. They laugh, jest, quarrel, and push
each other to and fro, with the same unfeeling indifference as if they were
assembled for some holiday sport, or to see an idle procession. Occasionally,
however, this demeanour, so natural to the degraded populace of a large town, is
exchanged for a temporary touch of human affections; and so it chanced on the
present occasion.
    When Deans and his daughter presented themselves in the Close, and
endeavoured to make their way forward to the door of the Court-house, they
became involved in the mob, and subject, of course, to their insolence. As Deans
repelled with some force the rude pushes which he received on all sides, his
figure and antiquated dress caught the attention of the rabble, who often show
an intuitive sharpness in ascribing the proper character from external
appearance, -
 
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