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lect feven Juftices of the Peace to be Commiffioners along with others mentioned in the act, for building and maintaining a Bridewell and Houfe of Correction for the City and County of Edinburgh, and for executing fuch of the powers as are entrusted to, or directed to be executed by them, when the following Gentlemen were chofen :

Andrew Wauchope of Niddry, Efq;
John Wauchope of Edmonston, Efq;
Mr Baron Cockburn,

James Rocheid of Inverleith, Efq;
James Clerk of Bonnington. Efq;
Captain James Durham,

Robert Trotter of Bufh, Efq;

Thefe Commiffioners, agreeable to the act of Parliament, are to continue in office till the Michaelmas meeting of Freeholders 1792, when a new election is to take place, and thofe then chofen continue for two years. New elections are appointed to be made at the Michaelmas meeting at the end of every fecond year; but, at every fuch election, not more than five of the Commiffioners of the former are to be re-elected; and, in cafe of the death or refignation of any one or more of the Commiffioners, the Freeholders are authorised to meet, and fupply fuch

vacancy or vacancies.

The Commiffioners named in the act are: The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh,

The Members in Parliament for the City and County of Edinburgh,

The four Bailies of Edinburgh,
The Dean of Guild of Edinburgh,

The Convener of the Trades of Edin burgh,

The Admiral of Leith,

The Baron Bailie of Canongate,
The Baron Bailie of Portfburgh,

The first refident Bailie of Leith,

The first resident Bailie of Canongate,

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HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.
Edinburgh, July 8.

A General Meeting of this Society, agreeable to their charter, was held here, when, after a ballot, as required by the laws of the

The Sheriff depute of the County of E- Society, before proceeding to other bufinets,

dinburgh; and,

The Sheriff-fubftitute of the County of Edinburgh, all for the time being. The Commiffioners, thus appointed and elected, any nine or more of whom are declared to be a quorum, are appointed to meet annually in the Parliament Houfe, upon the first Monday of July, to elect a Prefes, who is to have his own, as well as a caring or decifive vote, in cafe of an equality; and thereafter they are authorised to elect fix of their number as a Committee to continue for one year, which Committee is to have the fame powers as are vefted in the whole Commiffioners, provided that two of the fix are Juftices appointed Commiflioners by the Freeholders of the county of Edinburgh.

This day, July 4, at one o'clock, a meeting of the Commiffioners accordingly took place, in terms of the Act of Parliament,

the following new Members were duly elected, and admitted, viz.

Moft Hon. the Marquis of Huntly,
The Rt. Hon. Earl of Hopetoun,
Sir John Belfches of Fettercairn, Bart.
Hector Macneil, Efq. of Ugadale,
Allan Cameron, Efq. of Erracht.
John Grame, Efq. Clerk to the Signet,
Colin Lauder, Efq. Surgeon in Edinburgh,
Lauchlin Mactavifh, Efq. of Dunardry,
Neil Macgibbon, Efq. Stronefkan.

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the Society, as contained in the advertifements made by the Directors, offering Premiums for the Introduction of Manufactures, improving the breed of Black Cattle, for encouraging proprietors to establish and build Inland Towns and Villages in the Highlands of Scotland, and to the Authors of Effays of Merit and useful Communications on the fubject of the Fisheries, and other articles connected with the plan of this institution, and alfo for promoting of Agriculture, and for improvements in the mode of manufacturing and making Kelp.

The Meeting alfo approved of the Report of the Committee of Directors as to the purchafe which they have made of a Hall on the South Bridge for their meetings, to which they have been encouraged by the exertions of the Directors in carrying forward the plan of this inftitution, and thereby promoting the profperity of the Society. It gave much fatisfaction alfo, to learn by a letter from Mr Nicholfon younger of Lochend, to Sir John Sinclair of Ulbfter, one of the Vice Presidents, that the premiums for the production of fine-wool'd Shetland tups, at the exhibition to be foon held there, have excited a spirit of exertion and emulation among all ranks; fo that the intention of this Society, by their offer of premiums for improving the fleece in these idlands, fo remarkable for fine wool, will, it is hoped, have the defired effect, and tend greatly to the public benefit, as well as to the private advantage of that part of the country.

SHEEP-SHEARING FESTIVAL.

FRIDAY, July 1.

This festival was held at Newhall's inn near the Queensferry. About 30 ladies and 70 gentlemen of rank were prefent, who were received, as they arrived, by Sir John Sinclair, the Chairman of the Society for the improvement of British wool. The campany began to affemble abont one o'clock, and were conducted to a grafs plot in a garden belonging to Mr Dundas of Duddingfton, adjoining to the inn. In the centre of the green a pole was erected, with crofs branches, on which were fufpended fpecimens of various kinds of wool, and in par ticular, fome dreffed fkins of the Shetland breed of fheep, with the wool adhering, which were greatly admired. Latin in fcriptions appeared on a tablet fixed at the top of the pole, applicable to the occafion of the meeting. There were theep of vari ous breeds and countries collected in the garden, and on the neighbouring banks, viz. Spanish, English, Scots, and Shetland and to add to this group, Mr Dundas of Dunda fent there fome fheep from Abyf Ania. The fheep-fhearing began about two

o'clock, which Mr Cully's clipper performed, and was much praifed. The wool of the various breeds was exhibited, with labels denoting the kind and peculiarities of its texture. During the sheep-fhearing, a band of music attended and played a great variety of favoutite Scots airs adapted to the occafion.

The ladies were in general dressed in white mullin, with flowers aod various coloured ribbons, and each bore a fhepherdefs crock decorated with tafte and fancy. The day being favourable, the appearance on the green, of fo much beauty and elegance, afforded a fpectacle at once pleafing and enterraining: and here none was more diftinguifhed than the venerable patriotic Countfs Dowager of Dundonald, whofe hat was decorated with a bandeau of wool from her own flock, and dyed by herself, of various beautiful vivid colours, which had a fine effect. Several of the gentlemen were prefented by her ladyship with cockades, and other ornaments of this material. The gentlemen were dreffed varioufly, as tafte and fancy fuggefted. Some of them appeared in cloth made from their own flocks, with crooks on their buttons, &c. and fome of the ladies in gowns of their own fpinning.

"the

A little after four o'clock, the company left the garden, and fat down to an elegant entertainment in a large room adjoining to the inn. The first toaft, given by Sir John Sinclair, who was in the chair, was, Royal Shepherd of Great Britain, and fuccefs to his flock." A fignal was then made to the Hind frigate, which lay at anchor at a little distance, and a round of twenty-one guns was fired in honour of fo popular a toaft. A number of other loyal and patriotic toafts were afterwards given, and the amor patria appeared to glow fo much in every breaft, that no affemblage could have exhibited more harmony and happiness than appeared on this occafion. After tea and coffee, the ball was opened by the Countess of Hopetoun and Sir John Sinclair, and continued till near twelve, when the company feparated, highly pleased with the day's entertainment. Their country is much indebted to the Noblemen and Gentlemen for promoting fo very important objects; and in this inftance of the feftival they have pleafantly united the dulce cum utili.

It is impoffible to give the names of all the refpectable and distinguished characterswho were prefent on the occafion; but we may mention a few, viz. the Marquis of Huntly, the Earts of Morton and Buchan, the Dowager Countess of Dundonald, the Earl and Countess of Hopetoun, Lady Hopes, Lord and Lady Elibank, Lord Macdonald. and the Hon. Mr Macdonald; the Hon. Captain and Mrs Cochran, Mr Heron, and

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Lady

Lady Elizabeth Heron; Hon. Lieut. Murray, the Lord Chief Baron, his Lady and family; the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir Thomas Blacket and family; Sir Gilbert Elliot, Sir John Inglis and family; Sir Michael Malcolm, Sir John Henderson, Sir James and Lady Foulis; Sir William Ramfay, Sir John and Lady Sinclair; Lady Clerk, Mark Pringle, Efq; M. P. Mr and Mrs Beliches; Capt. and Mrs Mackay; Mr Ramfay of Barnton; Mr Afkew of Pallinfburn, &c. Sir Thos Blacket, Mr Afkew, &c. came from England to attend

Meff. Robert Young,

Charles Kerr,
John Robertfon.
George Sinclair,
J. Learmouth, jun,
Thomas Gladstones,
George Brown,

Robert Anderson.

Thofe marked thus ‡ are newly elected, the others continued.

EDINBURGH RACES.

this pleafing feftival, which we are happy July 18. The City of Edinburgh's Plate of

to find is to be celebrated annually hereafter.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

July II. This day came on the election of Chairman, Directors, and Office Bearers of the Chamber of Commerce here for the enfuing year, when the following gentlewere unanimously chofen :

William Ramfay, Efq. of Barnton, Chair

man.

Neil McVicar, Efq. Senior Deputy Chair

man.

Robert Allan, Efq. Junior Deputy Chair

man..

George Kinnear, Treasurer.

William Creech, Secretary.

AUDITORS OF ACCOUNTS

Melf. Andrew Bonar,
John Hay,
William Simpson,
James Rennie,
David Ramfay.

Robert Walker, Chaplain.
Robert Cameron, Clerk.
DIRECTORS.

Meff. George Hay,
Thomas Williamson,
John Sligo,
James Dickfon,
Charles Robertson,
John Hutton, Leith,
Thomas Elder,
Sir John Henderson,
George Leflie,
William Creech,
John Hutton, Edinburgh,
William Sibbald,
Archibald Geddes,
James Morrison, jun.
J. Stirling, Lord. Provost.
William Caddel,
Alexander Somervaill,
James Donaldfon,

John Scougal,

John Horner,

Francis Sharp,

David Steuart,

L.50 was won by Mr Spence's bay mare Gipfey-An excellent

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Tuefday laft, between two and three o'clock afternoon, we had a heavy rain, which lafted about fifteen minutes, and inundated many parts of the city to fuch a degree, that for fome time there was no paffing along the pavement. Soon after the rain, the expanfe became amazingly clear, and the fun fhone uncommonly bright, attended with great heat. About that time an appearance was feen in the heavens, refembling a ferpent, flying in the direction of from weft to eaft. The horizon being perfectly clear in that direction, it was visible for fome minutes, and then feemed to part in a great many pieces. Before its feparation, it was to appearance at least two hundred yards long, and its motion resembled that of a fhip's pendant difplayed at the masthead in a gale of wind.

COURT

COURT OF SESSION.

LOCHMABEN CAUSE.

The Court of Seffion, fome time ago, fettled the cofts given against the defenders in the process of reduction of the election of Magiftrates of Lochmaben, at Michaelmas 1790. The account came to about 4001. Sterling, but was reftricted to 3001.

Upon this occafion Lord Swinton lamented the form of our proceedings in taking evidence in writing upon commiffion in cafes of this kind, both in regard of the heavy expence which it drew upon the parties, and in regard to the lofs of time which it occafioned to them and others concerned.

He obferved, that in this cafe the printed proof, confifting of the depofition of no fewer than feventy-eight witneffes, filled about two hundred quarto pages of print, altho' all that was material to the iffue of the caufe might have been confined to the evidence of eight or nine witneffes, and comprised in lefs than twenty pages: That thefe witneffes were brought all the way from Lochmaben and neighbourhood (about fixty miles) to Edinburgh to be examined; and it appeared from the account produced, that the taking the proof had lafted a whole month, though taken before the Sheriff, a gentleman of unquestionable ability: That it had taken three days in hearing in the Court of Seffion, befides the time spent by the Judges in reading the papers at home; and it might be fairly computed upon the whole, that this caufe alone had truly coft above twenty-four days or four weeks judicial work; and near four score labourers, tradefmen, and manufacturers, brought from their employment, and kept fo long idle in Edinburgh. What a lofs was this to the people in particular, and to the trade and manufacture of this part of the kingdom in general, befides about 8ool cofts to the parties, merely for law proceedings!

He next stated a comparison of the proccedings in this cafe with the method of proceeding by juries in our neighbouring kingdom, where a trial of fuch a kind at the Affizes, in place of four weeks, would not have flood above fix weeks, including the time of taking the proof, by examining perhaps eight or nine witreffes in prefence of the jury, and where the total expence of both fides would not have exceeded sol. The first he averred, viz. relative to the time, from his own obfervation, having had occafion to be prefent at the laft Spring Af fizes in York. The fecond, with refpect to the cofts, he gave upon the concurring information of eminent perfons in the law, of whom he was curious to make the enquiry,

and who uniformly affured him, that, at an average, the caufes there tried cost 30l. to the plaintiff, and 201. to the defendant, including the expence of the ordinary prelimi nary fteps in Weftminfter Hall.

His Lordfhip concluded with obferving, that if the Scots Judges were ten times longer lived than the English Judges, and Scots litigants ten times richer than litigants in England, there might be fome reason for fo much waste of time and money here; but as it was well known fuch was not the cafe, it was matter worthy confideration to provide fome remedy for fo clamant an evil.

N. B. Upon these remarks made by the learned Judge, comparing the cost of the law in Scotland with thofe in England, we have to obferve, that from an authentic account we had of the Affizes above alluded to, there were fixty caufes tried in one week by Mr Juice Duller, including the taking of the proof in all of them, which, at sol. each, would amount to 3000l. made by the law in the fourth part of the time spent judicially upon the Lochmaben caufe. From whence we draw this conclufion, that the practifhortening the time, and leffening the extioners of the law would be no lofers by pence spent in law proceedings.

Edinburgh, July 19.

The Annual Competition for Prizes given by the Highland Society of London, to the three beft performers on the bagpipe, was held in the Circus on Tuesday laft, in prefence of a Committee of Judges and Directors, appointed by the Highland Society of Scotland, and a very numerous and genteel affembly who honoured the competition with their attendance.

The first prize, being a pipe, with 40 merks in money, was adjudged to Donald M-Craw in Applecrofs, and delivered to him by the Prefes of the Committee, in prefence of the audience, with general applaufe.

The Committee met on Wednesday to determine the other two prizes, when the fecond being 30 merks, was given to John M'Gregor from Breadalbane; and the third, being alfo 30 merks, was given to Duncan. Stuart, piper to the Rt. Hon. Lord Mountftuart; and by order of the Committee, the money arifing from the fale of tickets, was diftributed among the other competitors, and the dancers of Highland reels.

Mr Biffet, an ingenious artift of Birmingham (originally from this country) had painted fome emblematic ornaments for the room where the Revolutionifts dined, which were greatly admired. The central piece was a finely-executed medallion of his Majefty, encircled with a Glory, on each fide of

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June 1. Lieutenant-Colonel David Muirhead of the East India Company's fervice.

2. Dr James Gillespie, Principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews.

5. Lieutenant Colonel David Hepburn.
14. Major Charles Edmonfione.
20. Sir Francis Elliot of Stobs, Bart.
22. Mifs Agnes Steuart of Ballechin.
26. The Countefs Dowager of Aberdeen.
Sir David Murray, Bart.

29. Mrs Gardner, wife of Dr Gardner. 30. The Rev. Duncan M'Farlane of Drymen, aged 84.

July 1. Mrs Janet Clark widow of Mr William Alfton, writer to the fignet.

6. John Lord Doune, fon to the Earl of Moray.

7. After a fhort illness, the Rev. Dr Thomas Blacklock, a name well known in the learned world, and which will long furvive him. He was an extraordinary perfon. Though totally deprived of fight from his

early infancy, and unaffifted by the advan tages of fortune, his genius, notwithstanding thefe unfavourable circumftances, fhone out in various productions both in verfe and profe. He was an excellent claffical scholar, and well verfed in moft of the other branches of literature. As a poet, a philofopher, and a divine, a great share of merit will not be denied him by those who are acquainted with his writings. His poetical works are marked with fuch an elegance and force of diction, fuch a glow and propriety of defcription, and fuch an ardour of fentiment, as affect the feelings of every reader of taste, and have accordingly been admired by the beft judges in Great Britain. His mufe was ever the friend of virtue, for he himself was the friend of human kind. The whole of his private life was an amiable example of unaffected piety towards God, and undiffemHis converfation bled good-will to men. was animated, entertaining, and inftructive. His wit, of which he poffeffed no small share, often gave pleasure, but never pain. tis ille Rebilis occidit !"-Such was the mildnefs of his temper, the benevolence of his heart, and the elegance of his mind, that it was impoffible to know him and not love him; and it may truly be faid, that he never loft a friend, nor made a foe.

66 Mul

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