to Edinburgh, and some high words passed between them. She persisted, however, in her first intention, and carried her young child along with her. On her way home,, having been nearly two days without food, (as she told some persons whom she met on the road,) it appears, that either in wrath or despair, she formed the dreadful resolution of exposing her infant. Instead of proceeding homewards, horror-struck, probably at the deed she had done, in leaving her helpless child in a wood, she fled back, and has not since been heard of. The poor man had seen the account in the newspapers of a child having been exposed and found in the parish of Tranent, but he could not bring his mind to think that his wife, although she had left him in bad humour, could be capable of such an act. Being, however, casually informed of some particulars concerning the little foundling, he was induced to come and see him. The mingled tears of the father and child at meeting attested their relationship.

Bank of England.-It appears, from the accounts just presented to the House of Commons, that the amount of the sums paid by the public to the Bank, as a remuneration for receiving the contributions on loans, independent of the annual expence of management, from the year 1793 to 1816 inclusive, is L. 397,086, 7s. 3d. That the number of notes discovered by the Bank to have been forged from the 1st June 1812, to 10th April 1818, distinguishing those from L. to L.20 and upwards, is one hundred and thirty-one thousand, three hundred and sixty-one. That the total expence of prosecutions for forgeries, or uttering forged notes, from 1st March 1797, to 1st April 1818, a mounts to the sum of L. 148,370, 9s. 3d. That the nominal value of the notes, of which payment was refused, from 1st January 1816, to 10th April 1818, is L. 74,760, and that the nominal value of forged notes paid by the Bank for the same period, which was afterwards recovered on the forgeries being detected, amounted only to L. 75. To shew the great and alarming increase of forgeries of Bank of England notes, the whole expence of their prosecutions in the year 1797 was only about L. 1500, while in the first three months of the present year, it amounted to the enormous sum of nineteen thousand eight hundred and ninety pounds!

JUNE.

1.-General Assembly.-The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was opened at Edinburgh on the 21st ultimo, by William Earl of Errol, his Majesty's Lord High Commissioner to that court. The Rev. Dr John Campbell, one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, was chosen Moderator. The customary letter from the Prince Regent, with the grant of L. 2000

VOL. II.

for propagating Christian knowledge in the Highlands of Scotland, was delivered by the Commissioner, and a Committee was appointed by the Assembly to draw up a suitable answer. On the 23d, the Assembly took under their consideration the case of marriages celebrated by the Scotch church in India. After detailing the vari ous steps which had been taken, in order to procure the sanction of the Court of Direc tors, to have it found that marriages celebrated by a Scotch clergyman in British India were legal and valid, the Assembly were not only gratified to find the Directors of the India House going heartily into the measure, but that his Majesty's Government had taken the subject into their serious consideration, and that a bill had been framed, and read twice in the House of Commons, to render valid all marriages that had taken place, or that should take place, betwixt the members of the Scottish Church in British India, either where the parties were wholly belonging to the Scottish Church, or either of them a member of that communion. This communication was received with the highest satisfaction; and when the bill is passed into a law, it will place that branch of the Church of Scotland in a situation of dignity, independence, and respectability. The warmest thanks of the Assembly were afterwards given from the chair to the Lord Advocate of Scotland, for the great attention and pains he had bestowed on this subject, and in carrying forward this important measure to so desirable an issue. On the 26th, the Assembly proceeded to consider a reference from the Synod of Moray, for advice on a decision in the cause of Mr John Clark, minister of the gospel, and teacher of the academy of Inverness, which had been brought before them by protest and appeal against a sentence of the Presbytery of Inverness, deposing Mr Clark from the office of the holy ministry. It was admitted on the part of the Presbytery, that they had proceeded irregularly, and that there was no adequate evidence in proof of the libel.-After hearing parties, the Assembly unanimously agreed to reverse the sentence of the Presbytery, and assoilzie Mr Clark from the whole charges laid against him; and they ordered the whole proceedings, in this cause to be expunged from the minutes and records of the Synod of Moray, &c. On the 27th, the Assembly had transmitted to them from the Committee of Bills, extract minutes from the Presbytery of Dunfermline, referring to the Assembly, for advice and decision, a cause relating to the ringing of the bells of the parish church of Dunfermline on the Lord's day of the 12th of April last, which had been brought be fore them by a reference from the Kirk Session. It seems, that on the day mentioned, a sermon was to be preached for 4. F

some charitable purpose; and the Magistrates of Dunfermline, in order to make the collection as high as possible, obtained the use of one of the dissenting meetinghouses, which was larger than the parish church. The minister of the parish refused to allow the church bells to be rung on the occasion; but the Magistrates persisted in their order to that effect, and sent some of their officers, who made their way to the belfry in spite of the beadle, and rung the bells. The Assembly, after hearing parties in this case, found that the power of regulating the time and manner of ringing the bells of the parish church, as connected with ecclesiastical and religious purposes, belonged exclusively to the minister or ministers of the parish, and that the proceedings in this cause, on the part of the Magistrates of Dunfermline, were irregular and reprehensible; at the same time, the Assembly remitted to a committee to consider what steps might be proper for preserving the rights of the church. On the 28th, the Assembly took into consideration an appeal of Dr Thomas Macknight, member of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, against a sentence of the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale of the 5th May, reversing a sentence of the Presbytery of Edinburgh in December last. This appeal related to a question which has excited considerable interest in this city. On the 1st December last, the Presbytery of Edinburgh had presented to them a petition from several inhabitants of the city, in name of themselves and about 300 heads of families, stating, that they had purchased, for L. 4000, the late Episcopal chapel in Cowgate, and praying that the same might be erected into a Chapel of Ease, in communion with the Established church. The Presbytery, after much discussion, refused to comply with the prayer of this petition, conceiving the said erection unnecessary and inexpedient. Their sentence was brought by appeal before the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale, who, upon hearing parties, reversed it; and it was against the sentence of the Synod that Dr Macknight, supported by other members of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, now appealed. Parties being called, Mr Andrew Thomson, on the part of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, argued against the expediency of erecting this chapel into a Chapel of Ease. He stated, in the course of a long speech, that the established churches of Edinburgh had more than two thousand seats vacant, and which the petitioners might have access to if they really wanted accommodation in the established church. The Rev. Gentleman further stated, that this was nothing but an attempt to create a new congregation under a favourite clergyman, while there was a Chapel of Ease in the neighbourhood, quite competent, along with the other es

tablished congregations, to contain the whole of the parties who made this application. Dr Meiklejohn followed on the same side, and enforced the same arguments. Mr Henry Cockburn, as counsel for the petitioners, in a speech of two hours and a half duration, endeavoured to convince the Assembly of the propriety of granting the prayer of the petition. He went into a history of the Church of Scot land, the progress of dissenters, and in the most feeling terms, appealed to the Assembly whether or not two thousand Christian souls, knocking at the doors of the church to become members of the Establishment. should be rejected, when, comparatively speaking, the increased population had been far greater than the accommodation male by the Established Church during the last fifty years. The learned Counsel concluded a most able speech, by calling upon the Assembly, as they valued the best interests of the Church of Scotland, to reverse the sentence of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. Mr Sommerville, minister of Currie, also addressed the Assembly on the same side, in support of the judgment of the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. Parties being fully heard and removed, it was moved and seconded to sustain the appeal and complaint, reverse the sentence of the Synod, and affirm the sentence of the Presbytery. Another motion was made and seconded to dismiss the appeal and com plaint, affirm the sentence of the Synod, and reverse the sentence of the Presbytery; and the vote being called for, it carried by a great majority first motion; and, there fore, the General Assembly did, in terms of the first motion, sustain the appeal and complaint, reverse the sentence of the Sy nod, and affirm the sentence of the Presbytery. In consequence of this decision, we understand the congregation, assembled in the Cowgate chapel, under the care of the Rev. Simon Fraser, have made a proposal to join the Relief Synod.On the 29th, a petition and appeal was presented to the Assembly, from the Rev. James Russell, minister of Gairloch, with concurrence of upwards of 150 of his parishioners, against certain proceedings of the Presbytery of Lochcarron. Parties having been heard, it was unanimously agreed to sustain the appeal, reverse the sentence of the Presby tery, dismiss the accusation and petition against Mr Russell, of 2d September 1817, as irregular and incompetent; assoilzie Mr Russell from all the charges contained in said petition, prohibit all further pro cedure thereon, and ordain the minutes of all proceedings already held on these charges to be expunged from the records of the Presbytery and Synod.The Assembly then proceeded to consider a petition from the Marquis of Tweeddale and other heritors of the parish of Channelkirk, a

gainst a sentence of the Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale, of date 28th October 1817, affirming a sentence of the Presbytery of Lauder, of date 24th June 1817, refusing to serve Mr Brown with a libel. It appeared from the petition, that, in 1816, a difference took place between Mr Brown and the heritors, relative to some additions claimed by the former to his manse and offices, and repairs to the parochial church. The heritors agreed to a certain part of Mr Brown's claims, but not to the extent he requested; and, in consequence, the Rev. gentleman discontinued the exercise of his duties for about eight months, after the month of November in that year. The heritors, in consequence, presented a libel to the Presbytery of Lauder, which the Presbytery refused to serve on Mr Brown; but recommended him without delay to recommence preaching from a tent, or any other convenient place, till a new church, which was in progress of building, should be completed. The Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale affirmed this sentence, and the matter was now brought by appeal before the General Assembly. Parties being heard, it was moved and seconded to dismiss the appeal, and affirm the sentences of the Synod and Presbytery. Another motion was made and seconded, to sustain the appeal, and reverse the sentences of the Synod and Presbytery, and remit to them to serve Mr Brown with that part of the libel which charges him with giving up the performance of public worship within his parish, and to proceed to judge of the relevancy thereof. The votes being taken, the first motion was carried by a great majority. The Assembly, in consequence, affirmed the sentence of the Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale and the Presbytery of Lauder. On the 30th, the Assembly took into consideration, extract minutes of the Presbyteries of Strathbogie and Aberlour, referring to them the conduct of Mr John M'Donald, minister of Urquhart, in preaching in other parishes than his own, within the bounds of the above Presbyteries. Mr Cruickshanks, a member of the Presbytery of Strathbogie, was heard in support of the reference, and Mr M'Donald in explanation. After long reasoning, a motion was made and seconded, that," having considered the references, the Assembly declare, that the performance of divine service, or of any part of public worship or service by ministers of this church, in meeting-houses of dissenters, is irregular and unconstitutional, and ought on no occasion to take place, except in cases in which, from the peculiar circumstances of a parish, its minister may find it occasionally necessary for conducting the ordinary religious instruction of his people; and the Assembly further declare, that the conduct of any minister of the church who exercises his pastoral

functions in a vagrant manner, preaching during his journeys from place to place in the open air, in other parishes than his own, or officiating in any meeting for religious exercises, without the special invitation of the minister within whose parish it shall be held, and by whom such meetings shall be called, is disorderly, and unbecoming the character of a minister of this church, and calculated to weaken the hands of the minister of the parish, and to injure the interests of sound religion; and the Assembly enjoin Presbyteries to take order that no countenance be given by ministers within their bounds to such occasional meetings proposed to be held for divine service, or other pious purposes, as may, under the pretext of promoting religion, so injure its interests, and so disturb the peace and order of the church: and in case of such meetings taking place, the Presbyteries within whose bounds they are held, are enjoined to report the same to the meeting of the General Assembly next ensuing." Another motion was made and seconded, that "the Assembly, having considered the references, find it unnecessary to emit any declaration relative to the subject thereof, the existing laws of the Church being sufficient to prevent the irregularity complained of, and recommend to the ministers of this Church to exercise their usual vigilance, in giving all due effect to these laws." The question being called for, it was agreed that the state of the votes should be first or second motion, when it carried, by a very considerable majority, first motion. The General Assembly, in consequence, declare and enjoin in terms of said motion. This day (June 1st) a committee, to which a proposal had been referred for admitting the chapel at Portobello into a communion of the church, as a Chapel of Ease, gave in a report, approving of certain regulations that had been drawn up for its government. The Assembly entirely concurred in the sentiments of the report, and unanimously approved of it accordingly.After some routine business, his Grace the Commissioner, in an elegant speech from the Throne, dissolved the Assembly in name of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, on behalf of his Majesty. The Moderator then dissolved the Assembly in the usual form. The next General Assembly is appointed to meet on the 20th of May 1819.

Singular Incident.-On the 27th ult. an ox, belonging to Mr Ronaldson, butcher in Leith, became furious in driving to the shambles, and, after a circuitous route through the town, pursued a man up a turnpike stair in Bath Street, to the height of four stories, including the attic story, and entered a garret room, where an old woman (the mother of the man it had pursued) was in bed; she fortunately suc

ceeded in escaping from its fury, but the animal remained till he tore to pieces the bed-clothes and bedding, broke the bed stead, and every article of furniture in the apartment; and it was not without some considerable difficulty he was dislodged and taken down stairs.

4.Magisterial Delinquency.-In the Court of King's Bench last term, Mr J. Merceron was convicted on an indictment charging him, that, being a magistrate for Middlesex, and well knowing that certain public-houses, (his property,) in the parish of St Matthew, Bethnal Green, were disorderly, did concur with the magistrates of the district in granting licences to those houses; and with embezzling L. 925, 1s. 2d. of the poor-money belonging to the parish of Bethnal Green. Yesterday morning he was brought up to receive judgment for these offences; when the court, taking into consideration his having refunded the money embezzled, with interest thereupon, pronounced sentence, that the defendant should, for the first offence, be recommitted to the custody of the Marshal of the King's Bench for six months, and pay a fine of L. 200; and for the second, be imprisoned twelve months, to commence after the expiration of the six months for the first offence. Mr Justice Bailey added, that the case should be laid before the Lord Chancellor, that his Lordship may use his discretion as to striking the defendant out of the Commission of the Peace.

Landed Property.-Within these last six months, there have been more estates sold in the public rooms of Edinburgh, than there had been for the three previous years, and at much higher prices. As a proof of the rising value of ground near our metropolis, we understand that a small property on the road to Broughton, about half a mile from our New Town, measuring little more than four Scots acres, was, on Wednesday, sold judicially at the price of L. 3300, being at the rate of about L.800 sterling per acre. Within about these 45 years, this same property was sold by one of our wealthiest hospitals for L. 335, so that, during that short period, it has risen to nearly ten times its original price.

It is at all times gratifying to see private worth, public spirit, and patriotic exertion, meeting with their reward in the approbation of those who are most capable of appreciating their effects; and we have much pleasure, therefore, in recording the singular marks of respect which have been just shown by the gentlemen of Morayshire, residing in London, to their countryman, Isaac Forsyth, Esq. of Elgin, on his late visit to the metropolis. These gentleman invited their countryman to an elegant entertainment at the City of London Tavern, where upwards of thirty of them sat down to dinner, John Masson, Esq.

in the chair, assisted by Robert Innes, Esq. as deputy. The chairman, in proposing the health of their visitor, Mr Forsyth, and after expressing his regret that the task had not fallen into abler hands, addressed to him a few words, expressive of the gratification felt by the company at seeing Mr Forsyth among them, and of the esteem and respect which they entertained for his many virtues. "Animated (he observed) with these sentiments, and a just sense of your hospitality and kindness to them on every occasion, your countrymen have deputed me to offer you this gold snuff-box, as a testimony of the attachment they feel to your person, and of their respect for your character; and in presenting it for your acceptance, I find I cannot do it in more appropriate terms than in the lan guage of the inscription which it contains:To ISAAC FORSYTH, Esq. of Elgin, this slight emblem of esteem and attachment, is offered by the Gentlemen of Morayshire, residing in London; who acknowledge, with pride and gratitude, the benefits and the lustre which, in their absence, their beloved Country derives from his public spirit, cha racter, and example.'-Wishing, Sir, that you may be long spared as a blessing to your family and to society, we have the pleasure of drinking your health." This toast was drank with three times three, and was followed by testimonies of great satisfaction and applause.-Mr Forsyth returned thanks in the most appropriate terms of gratitude and respect, and with that flow of genuine eloquence with which he is so highly en dowed.

6.-Executions. On the 3d, William Baird and Walter Blair were executed in front of the New Jail, Glasgow. They had been found guilty of robbing, on the 23d August 1817, George Liddel, and of attacking, at different times on the 25th of the same month, Thomas Heugh, John Sommerville, William Watt, and Richard Ferrie; from all of whom they only got a guinea note, a silver watch, a few shillings, 2 lbs. of gunpowder, and several other trifling articles. These unfortunate men made a fruitless attempt to escape from jail the evening before, for which they after wards professed much contrition.--Baird and Blair were good-looking men, about 22 years of age. The former was brought up a farmer, and for some time kept a shop in Glasgow, both as a servant and master. The latter was well-known in Glasgow, of which he was a native. He attended the Grammar School and University, and was remarkable for his close application and ge neral good conduct. He studied medicine, and was for some time assistant surgeon on board one of his Majesty's vessels.

Yesterday, James Ritchie suffered death at Aberdeen, for sheep-stealing. The most zealous endeavours were made to obtain a

remission of his sentence, on account of his youth, (being only 17 years of age,) and his behaviour subsequent to his trial. Petitions were transmitted from the Clergy and Professors of the University, &c. in his favour; and the Duke of Gordon also applied for a pardon to the unhappy youth: but was refused by Lord Sidmouth, on account of the magnitude of the theft, the frequency of the crime in that neighbourhood, and the systematic manner in which it was carried into execution. Such, at least, had been the views of this melancholy case, which had been suggested to his Lordship.

Caledonian Canal.-This great national undertaking, to which Parliament has just voted L. 50,000, will be finished soon at an expence of nearly one million, and when completed will be of the utmost importance to the Highlands. The advantages of the Caledonian Canal, to the district through which it passes, begin already to be manifest. English coals, which formerly were carried over land from Inverness to Fort Augustus, and sold there at 4s. 6d. per barrel, have been sold this summer in that neighbourhood, when brought by the canal, at 2s. 6d.

8.-Resetting. This day, in the High Court of Justiciary, came on the trial of Catharine Stewart or Ferrier, and Robert Stewart, both lately residing at the Russian tap-room, in the Canongate of Edinburgh, and Margaret Cowan, lately residing in said Russian tap-room, and widow of the deceased Thomas Ferrier, tacksman of Melville Muir colliery, charged with twelve different acts of reset of theft, aggravated by their being persons habit and repute resetters of stolen goods. Margaret Cowan was outlawed for not appearing; and the trial proceeded against Stewart and his wife, for nine of the charges of reset of theft, which were found relevant. The Jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a viva voce verdict, finding two of the charges Not Proven, and finding the prisoners Guilty of the other seven charges in the indictment. The Court, after an impressive address from the Lord Justice Clerk, sentenced the prisoners to transportation for life.

11. Scottish Burgh Reform.—A meeting of the burgesses of Dundee was held up on this subject on the 7th ult., when several resolutions were unanimously agreed to, for an alteration of the set of the burgh; and application to be made to the Convention of Royal Burghs for that purpose. The meeting adjourned to the 22d July, being the second Wednesday after the meeting of the Convention of Royal Burghs at Edinburgh.

A very numerous and respectable meeting of the burgesses and other inhabitants

of Forfar took place on the 20th ult., when it was unanimously resolved to petition Parliament for a reform in the present burgh system, &c.

City of Aberdeen.-On the 9th ult., a committee of the Privy Council assembled at the Cockpit, Whitehall, to take into consideration the petition to the King in Council of the late Magistrates of Aberdeen, praying for the restoration of their ancient elective franchise, and also of the petition of the Burgesses of Guild and a very numerous and respectable body of the inhabitants, praying for a new set (constitution) of the burgh, for regulating the future elections of their Magistrates and Town-Council. Their Lordships, after hearing counsel on behalf of the different parties, resolved, before coming to a decision, to remit the case to the Crown lawyers of England and Scotland, for their opinion.

Deacon Lawrie and others, versus the Magistrates of Edinburgh.-On Saturday the 6th instant, the Second Division of the Court of Session advised this important case, when, upon one of the points of the libel, the complaint of the petitioners was sustained the election was declared null and void, and the pursuers found entitled to their expences. This judgment is founded on an informality in the election. The set provides, That after the deacons shall have been received and authorised in their offices, the meeting of Council at which this is done shall chuse furth of the said fourteen deacons six to be the Ordinary Council Deacons for the next year. The meeting at which this is done must consist of twenty-five persons. On the 17th September, the Council being made up to the requisite number of twenty-five, among which number was Mr Denholm, as Trades' Councillor of the former year, the fourteen deacons were introduced, and took the oaths, and among these Mr Denholm, as Deacon of the Waukers, then sitting at the Council-Board, and continuing to act in his old character of Trades' Councillor, voted for his own appointment as an Ordinary Council Deacon, thus acting in two different capacities. Mr Denholm, being thus received and sworn as a deacon under the new election, could no longer be considered as a Trades' Councillor; his place, therefore, in that capacity, should have been filled up before the meeting proceeded to elect the six Council Deacons out of the fourteen. This, however, was not done; consequently, the election of the six Council Deacons, of whom Mr Denholm was one, was made only by twenty-four Councillors and Mr Denholm himself. All the judges,namely, the Lord Justice Clerk, Lords Glenlee, Robertson, Bannatyne, and Craigie, were present. The last was the only dissentient judge.