Excerpt from Tales, Traditions, and Antiquities of Leith: With Notices of Its Trade, Commerce, &C

Thescottishenatione.butalaotbeneymiagia, andwill notsuhd mitthemselvestothecensures ofthe Kirk be mean oftneir alleadged priviledgea: heirtonthehaillkirdinm voyce.givestheirfullpowerandcommiaaionetothe finister of? Camphier, toproceidagainatthem, astheyought todoathmin themselm; requestandalsotbeoomarvatorto bold handume the Kirk, that order may be had against them. Themoatpmminentobjectontheshoreceith, intbeearly histmyofthetowmwasa large block of buifinga commonly described as the King's Wark, or Work, although, on rare occasions, it is also referred to as the palace. It occupied that entire awe between Bernard Street and Broad Wynd, and formed an ornamental and imposing termination to the buildings on the Shore. None of the writers, who have had occasion to describe it, attempt to car any explanation of the origin of the name, nor are we at all certain that our version will be accepted as a satisfactory one. From all that we can gather, we think that these buildings were erected by one of the Stewart; to serve as a royal arsenal, and partly as a defence to the harbours The term Wark would, in this case, be applied in the same some that we now use the words Stores or Buildings. Fanciful etymologists might trace the origin of the name to the great extent and architectural pretensions of the erection, which em titled it to be pro-eminently distinguished as The King's Wart. Its claim to the title of palace is exceedingly equivocal. That it was. For a very brief space, a royal residence, cannot be disputed1 but it was what is known in Scotland as ado no better - it was a sort of compulsory receptacle for royalty. J ames VL. Having made a hasty and nnpnmeditawd voyage to Norway, in search of his bride, returned as unceremoniously and unexpec tedlyas he had lefi. And 1101d notbeingreadyibrthe royal party, the King's Warlt was premd for their temporary recap tion. Were this principle to he applied in the present day. The number of palaces would very shortly be beyond all calculi tiou. Buryinn wherebermajeety spendsanlght; everyreai deuce which the human with her occasional presence, might, in.

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