Jeanie Deans's visit to Effie Deans; a scene from Sir Walter Scott's The Heart of Midlothian

'The Heart of Midlothian' was the name given to the old Edinburgh Tolbooth and the title given by Sir Walter Scott to his novel, published in 1818. Effie Deans found herself incarcerated there, accused (falsely) of the murder of her child. (He had in fact been sold by her midwife). She refused rescue by her lover, George Staunton, and was sentenced to death because her devoted half-sister, Jeanie, would not commit perjury to secure her acquittal. Jeanie did, however, travel to London, and owing to her eloquent pleading with Queen Caroline, secured her sister's release. Effie subsequently became Lady Staunton, but her husband, while searching for his long-lost son was killed by him on encountering a band of ruffians by whom his son had been raised. The novel, hugely popular in the 19th century, was set against the background of the Porteous Riots of 1736, in which the citizens of Edinburgh turned against the English captain, John Porteous, who had opened fire on an unarmed crowd.