December 20, 1817.] Chappell's Voyage to Hudson's Bay.-Voyage to Japan. 187 wisely conjecturing that they could have no to make upon the navigation of the northern feelings of compassion for their situation; good intentions towards him, put to sea during seas; consequently, nothing can be more in-litters were even offered them, and on their the night. Perouse dispatched a fast sailing correct than the chart supplied by the Admi- arrival at a town called Atkis, they were unfrigate in search of him, which soon had sight ralty for the guidance of a man-of-war in Hud- bound, to have their wounds dressed; but of the runaway; but Captain Fowler finding son's Straits; it absolutely bears no resem- notwithstanding the pain they suffered, they the Frenchman to have much superiority in blance to the channel of which it is intended were again tied, and eight Russians, closely point of speed, tacked about, and stood in for to be an exact delineation. During the time confined, continued to travel under an escort the land to the south of York, hoping thereby we continued in Hudson's Straits, the Rosa- of 200 men. to entice the Frenchman into shallow water: mond was entirely piloted by a chart belonging The reader soon discovers very clearly that the enemy, however, discovering his design, to the chief mate of the Prince of Wales, and the cruelty of the Japanese proceed solely from and fearing lest, in further pursuit, he might one of his own making: yet he was so jealous their cowardice, and that they are very huincur the risk of shipwreck, put off to sea; and of his performance, that he was highly offend-mane when they are not influenced by fear. Captain Fowler pursued his voyage to England ed at our Master's having endeavoured to take The farther he proceeds in the work, the more in safety. The season was too far advanced to a copy of it; and from thenceforward kept his strongly this remark is confirmed; traits of attempt any other exploit; and having there- charts carefully locked up. When I question- humanity and generosity become more fre fore burnt the factory at York, Perouse returned him, with some freedom, on this mysterious quent in proportion as the Japanese feel ed to Europe; highly chagrined, no doubt, at conduct, the selfish motive stood at once con- themselves more and more secure-they even being thus foiled by a pair of English sailors, fessed: he feared lest, from others attaining shew politeness, but without any diminution and at having failed of success in the principal the same knowledge as himself, they might be of mistrust, and a kind of familiarity takes aim of his expedition. As there are many induced to enter into the service of the Com- place between the inhabitants and the captive shoals and dangerous rocks in James' Bay, he pany, and thereby possibly supplant him in his travellers. But here a new feature in the Jadid not think it to send a ship to destroy the situation. And such I found to be the motives panese character unfolds itself that is their southern settlements: and to the credit of this which induced the majority of these experienc-insatiable curiosity. unfortunate navigator, I must state, that he ed seamen to keep their truly valuable inforpublicly averred, if he had been aware of the mation concealed within their own bosoms. factories being the property of individuals, he would assuredly have quitted them without molestation. It is remarkable that the Bay ship (as she is called) got safe to Moose factory, and returned to England, without being at all aware how very narrowly she must have escaped falling into the hands of the enemy. We have not time to follow this intelligent writer through his narrative of the Hudson's Bay Company's ineffectual attempts to establish permanent white whale fisheries on the coast of the Esquimaux, or of Lord Selkirk's attempts to establish a colony on the banks of the Red River: but we cannot pass in silence the illiberal conduct of the Company's officers in concealing from the public the knowledge which they actually possess concerning the navigation of the northern seas. In the earlier part of this narrative, Lieut. Chappell had occasion to notice the extreme incorrectness of the Admiralty charts, which had almost caused the loss of the Victorious, of 74 guns, near the coast of Greenland. Now, though we know that the Greenland fishermen and navigators are not the most intelligent or communicative persons in the world, yet we should naturally expect that some more solid information might be gleaned from the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. It appears, however, from Mr. C.'s narrative, that these persons are, from selfish motives, not only unwilling to communicate what they know respecting these comparatively unknown seas, but that they are sanctioned in such concealment by their em ployers, who have issued to their servants the strictest and most peremptory commands that they take especial care to conceal all papers, and every other document, which may tend to throw light upon the Company's fur trade.' Such is the gratitude of the Hudson's Bay Company for the protection they enjoyed in having their vessels convoyed by ships of war, during the late contest with France !!! To compensate for these defects in our charts, Mr. Chappell has carefully noted the soundings on his voyage, and has thus conferred an invaluable favour on future navigators. Wherever the Russians halted, the people flocked round them, and asked a thousand questions through the medium of the Curile. In their attempts to communicate with the governor of Kounaschir, they had employed an allegorical design, drawn by Mr. Moor, as a substitute for writing. Hence they were every where incessantly importuned for drawings; and such of the prisoners as could not draw were entreated to make at least some Russian As his return home did not present any ma- letters on paper or fans that were brought for terial occurrences, we need not follow his route. the purpose. They were also shewn small On arriving at the Orkneys, he landed at Kirk- knives and other utensils, which had been carewall, the principal town in that cluster of fully kept as curiosities ever since the expediislands, the residence of the ancient earls and tion of Capt. Laxmann. It was a fatiguing bishops of Orkney. He has given an interest-task to the travellers to comply with all these ing description of the cathedral of Saint Mag. applications; but they were solicited with such nus, erected upwards of five hundred years ago, politeness, and thanked with so many low and still in fine preservation. After a short bows, notwithstanding their being prisoners, continuance off the Orkneys. the Rosamond that it was impossible to refuse. It is worthy was joined by the other Hudson's Bay ship, of remark, that the astonishment of the Japawhich had been impeded in her voyage by bad nese was extreme, when the common sailors weather; and a few days afterwards anchored refused to write, because they could not. In at the Nore. Japan every body learns to write, not indeed A vocabulary of the Cree Indians, and seve-with the Chinese characters, the knowledge of ral other useful tables, conclude this interesting volume; which is further recommended by a map and several neat engravings. Captain Golownin's Voyage. (Concluded.) THE narrative of the personal adventures of this officer affords a thorough insight into the character of the Japanese. No sooner were himself and his companions in their power than they were bound in the most cruel manner; they were obliged to march at a very quick pace, and though some of them were nearly choked, yet their captors would not afford them the smallest relief, as long as they were within hearing of the ship's guns. They were It is probable, says Lieutenant Chappell, that conveyed from the island of Kounaschir to that the Company had no other motive in issuing of Yesso; the firing ceased, and the severity these directions, than to keep themselves and of their guards was mitigated: they performed their gains shrowded in a profound silence; as the humblest offices for their prisoners, who it appears that, above all other things, they were however still kept bound, but their wants wish their trading concerns not to become a were supplied-every attention, consistent topic of general conversation in the mother- with the safe custody of their persons, was country. Actuated by such principles, the of-paid to their health, and care was even taken ficers of the Hudson's Bay ships conceive it to to drive off the flies and insects which incombe their duty to conceal likewise all those re-moded them. In some of the villages through marks which their experience has taught them | which they passed, the inhabitants manifested which is confined to the highest classes, but with an alphabet of 48 letters, which is peculiar to their country. At Schakodade, where the Russians resided from the 8th of August to the 27th of September, and at Matsmai, the capital of the island of Yesso, where they passed the remainder of their captivity, the inquisitive disposition of the Chinese became still more troublesome to them. The interrogatories which they underwent before different governors were particularly harassing; they sometimes lasted for whole days, owing to the incapacity of the interpreters. It would naturally be supposed that the principal object of these examinations would be to ascertain who were the real authors of the depredations committed by Chwostow, and the intentions of Capt. Golownin in approaching the Curile islands; but these points occupied a very small portion of the audiences. Every answer to a leading question produced a multitude of accessory inquiries, which occasioned an immense loss of time. The mere mention of Petersburgh, for instance, gave rise to a long examination respecting the size of that capital, its buildings, population, and the manners of the inhabitants. The 188 Golownin's Voyage and Captivity. [December 20, 1817. vince, and a year in the capital, which his family is not allowed to quit. from the Russian government to commence hostilities. The governor of Kounaschir having exasperated Ricord by the false intelligence that his countrymen had been killed, he seized a Japanese vessel, and took part of the crew on board his ship. He could not find means of negotiating with the Japanese government, which refused to listen to any overture, though Ricord was furnished with a certifiacte from the governor of Ochotzk, purporting that the mission of the Diana was perfectly pacific, and that Chwostow had never been authorized by the court of Russia in his unjust aggressions. This was the very point in dispute; if the Ja panese could have been convinced of this, they would have been willing to release their prisoners; but this task was the more difficult as they had till then employed all the means in their power to obtain proofs of the contrary, and had refused to enter into any discussion with Ricord. name of a Russian led the Japanese to inquire made it, they had been removed from their that of his parents, his preceptors, the school first prison to a house in the town, where at which he was educated, and all the circum-they were treated rather as guests than pri- Capt. Golownin was principally indebted for stances of his life. Having asked what was soners. After they were re-taken, they were his liberation to Lieut. Ricord, who, on sucthe military force of Russia, they wished to not conducted back to their former prison, ceeding to the command of the cutter, in conknow the number, the dimensions and arrange- but confined in that set apart for criminals; sequence of the captivity of his superior officer, ment of the barracks. To convey a complete and they were obliged to confess themselves lost not a moment in attempting his deliveridea of this Japanese mania, it will be sufficient guilty, before any report could be made on the ance. The very day that his comrades were to state that Capt. Golownin being required to subject to the court. This submission to the made prisoners, he cannonaded the fort of translate a Russian document, in which men- Japanese laws seemed sufficient to restore them Kounaschir, but without effect, and immedition was made of the ribbon of St. Wladomir, to the same situation as before. The Japanese ately determined to set sail for Ochotzk, for merely rendered it the stripped ribbon, that he soon began to treat them with their former the purpose of collecting a more considerable might not be obliged to go through the bio-kindness and familiarity; it was then also, force, and returning the following year as soon graphy of the patron of the order, that of its when their liberation was nearly determined as the season should permit. The Diana acfounder, and perhaps the whole history of Rus- upon, that the government endeavoured to a-cordingly appeared off Kounaschir towards the sia, from Rurik to the present time. It is obvail itself of their talents and knowledge dur-end of August, 1812, but without any order vious that such a method of examining pri-ing the remainder of their stay. The Japanese soners to whose language they were strangers, are not strangers to the sciences, and they matogether with the necessity of transmitting nifest an eagerness after information, which minute reports to the court, whose residence does them honour. The Academy of Sciences was far distant, and of waiting for its answers of Yesso sent therefore to Matsmai one of its before they could take the most trivial step, members, who, as well as a geographer, named must have contributed, in no small degree, to Mamia Rinso, and Teske, a young secretary to render the captivity of the Russians so long as the governor, was desirous of making himself has been already stated. acquainted with the language and sciences of Another trait in the character of the Japa- Russia, through the medium of Capt. Golownin nese is a servile attachment to ancient customs and his officers. Mamia Rinso wished to be and the letter of the law, which, fortified by instructed in the method of calculating the the respect entertained by the Asiatics for longitude; the academician had the natural etiquette and ceremony, protracts all business philosophy of Libes explained to him; a Dutch to an astonishing length. But notwithstand-interpreter was employed to translate a little ing this adherence to the letter, the Japanese Russian treatise on the cow-pox; while Teske are very expert at eluding the spirit of the and others prevailed upon Capt. Golownin to law; to their honour, however, be it observed, draw up a Russian grammar.. All these perthat when they elude, it is generally to miti- sons, and many more, are admirably delineated gate it. But for the humanity which induced by the captain. There is great diversity in the governor of Matsmai, on more than one oc- their characters; most of them have their decasion, to exclude certain answers of Capt. fects, but few are bad. To the latter class, in- It was not till the next year that the firm Golownin and his companions from the written deed, belong scarcely any but the governor of and generous conduct of this officer had led reports of the examinations, they would have Kounaschir, who treacherously inveigled the them to adopt a different system. He once run great risk of passing the remainder of Russians in his island, and Mamia Rinso, the more returned to Kounaschir in the month of their lives in slavery. geographer, whose pride was humbled, on June, 1813, bringing with him the Japanese Upon the whole, we cannot help being struck finding his acquirements so far surpassed by whom he had carried away the preceding with the coolness and impartiality of the ma- those of the Europeans. From the others the year, and, among the rest, a person of disgistrates of Japan in all their judicial proceed-prisoners received, in general, marks of sym-tinction, named Tachatay-Kachi, to whom he ings. The defection of Mr. Moor, one of the pathy and kindness only.-Teske, their most had shown the utmost kindness. The JapaRussian officers, has been already alluded to. intelligent and assiduous pupil, carried his nese government, already prepossessed in faHe hoped to gain the favour of the Japanese by friendship so far, as to commit himself in or- vour of the Russians by the representations accusing his countrymen.-What was the con- der to serve them and the conduct of the of the three governors of Matsmai, sent ne sequence? All his disclosures, all his accusa-three successive governors of Matsmai, in gotiators to treat with him, and promised to tions, were rejected, and his misconduct only release Capt. Golownin and the other prisoners served the cause of those whom he denounced. as soon as he should furnish proofs that the The following circumstance will appear still It may not be amiss to observe here, that court of Russia disavowed the conduct of more extraordinary: It has been mentioned the provinces of Japan immediately dependent Chwostow.This evidence was not long wantthat Capt. Golownin, in the second year of his on the crown, always have two governors, one ing. The Diana appeared off the coast of captivity (April 1812), attempted to escape. of whom resides in the province, and the other Yesso on the 13th of September, and, with The extreme cowardice of the Japanese was in the capital, and that they relieve one another the permission of the Japanese, came to an anagain displayed in the precautions that were every year. The former transmits to the other chor at Schakodade, whither Capt. Golownin taken to apprehend him and his companions, an account of all that happens; the latter sub- and the other prisoners had been re-conducted. though disarmed; but when once secured and mits the business to the court, and endeavours At length, on the 6th of October, on the precarried before the governor, when of course he to obtain its decision as speedily as possible,sentation, by Lieut. Ricord, of an attestation was no longer an object of fear, he experienced It is evident that from this system considerable of the governor-general of Irkutzk, all doubts no severity, no anger from the magistrates or advantages must result for the administration; and difficulties were removed, and the captives his guards; and nevertheless he learned that but the Japanese have had an additional rea- restored to liberty. in case he had effected his escape, the governor, son for establishing it. No governor is allow. the magistrates, and the keepers would have ed to take his wife and children with him to been liable to capital punishment. It should the province committed to his care; they rebe farther observed, that the Japanese laws main as hostages with the court. Here we are extremely indulgent to foreigners who have another trait of Japanese suspicion; but cannot be condemned to any corporal punish-they would not have these governors to be conment unless they become proselytes to the re-tinually separated from their families, and this ligion of the country. The situation of the Russian prisoners was certainly changed in some respects, after their tempt to escape. At the time when they whose jurisdiction they were, was such as to is a fresh proof of their humanity. In the pro- It was in these last days more particularly that the Japanese character appeared in the most favourable point of view. The most sine cere joy was manifested, both by the magis trates and the people, on the liberation of the prisoners. All the effects which had been taken from them were crupulously restored, presents were made them, and what will ap pear till more extraordinary, the high-priest of Schakodade ordered prayers for five days for their prosperous voyage. Upon the whole, December 20, 1817.] Golownin's Voyage and Captivity.-Poetry. security. 189 whoever reads this work cannot help conclud-| polite, when there is nothing to disturb their | July in the following year-and that he obing, that if the Japanese have at all times been the most suspicious people on the face of the earth-if even they are one of the most cruel and perfidious of nations, they may nevertheless be classed among the most humane and I shall conclude this sketch with stating, that the Dana anchored in the bay of Awat scha on the 3d of November 1813-that Capt. Golownin arrived at Petersburg on the 22d of tained from the Emperor Alexander for himself, Lieut. Ricord, and his fellow-prisoners, rewards proportionate to their services and sufferings. MONODY. After the Dead March in Saul, the following Monody, written by Thomas Campbell, Esq. was spoken by Mrs. Bartley at Drury-Lane Theatre, on the 21st ult. Britons! although our task is but to shew The scenes and passions of fictitious woe, Think not we come this night without a part In that deep sorrow of the public heart, Which like a shade hath darken'd every place, And moisten'd with a tear the manliest face. The bell is scarcely hush'd in Windsor's piles, That toll'd a requiem through its solemn aisles 'For her, the Royal Flow'r low laid in dust, That was your fairest hope, your fondest trust. Unconscious of the doom, we dreamt, alas! That e'en these walls, e'er many months should pass, (Which but return sad accents for her now,) Perhaps had witness'd her benignant brow. Cheer'd by the voice ye would have rais'd on high In bursts of British love and loyalty. But Britain, now thy Chief, thy people, mourn, And beam'd affection in the trance of death. Sad was the pomp that yester-night beheld, As with the mourner's heart the anthem swell'd. While torch succeeding torch illumin'd each high The sacred march-and sable vested wall- Fair Spirit! send thy blessing from above tomb, Poetry. 'Tis not in language or expressive arts REFLECTIONS ON AUTUMN. Now venerable Autumn quits the plain, Yet sometimes cloudless are the nights, and The bright stars twinkling in the firmament; All that October's chilling gales have passed, Subject to like vicissitudes is man :- Man I have sung and singled out, but all woe; Then oh! for a guide in our wanderings here, With the heavenly faces and forms of our fair, Both the glow of the cheek and the grace of the mind: May modesty, innocence, prudence, and truth, Be the guides of their steps, and the guards of their youth; And shed round the bosom a soft-flowing ray, Which fails not when youth and when beauty decay. Thus may'st thou, my loved one, be honoured When the perishing phantom of beauty is o'erg age! D. M. 190 Chronicle. [December 20, 1817. An FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. The Paris papers present us with the projet of a law for regulating the recruiting of the army, in conformity with the king's speech at the commencement of the session. In developing the object and nature of this measure, M. Gouvion St Cyr, the minister of war, carefully and distinctly stated, that the government of France entertained no intentions inconsistent with the repose of Europe, and sought merely to preserve the army in its effective strength, and to support the departmental legions in their full complement. army for defence, and not for aggrandisement, is, he twice declares, the sole object of his majesty:-The liberty of the press has been virtually abolished; the newspapers having been given up to the superintendence of the minister of police for three years. According to the last census, the present population of France is 29,046,099. The rapidity with which the British system of education is prosecuted in France, almost exceeds belief. No less than 250 general and central schools are established in the different departments. One at Bourdeaux contains 500 children. The Duchess of Duras has established one in Paris for 150, and the Duke of Orleans another at Neuilly for 1000 poor children, on their own private expence. The King of Wurtemberg has just issued an ordinance, by one clause of which, he has, from the 1st of January next, for ever abolished the vas alage of the peasantry. The canton of Berne has addressed a circular to the other cantons of Switzerland, recommending that they should watch the journals with great vigilance, lest they violate the respect which is due to foreign states. They are likewise admonished against publications which may expose them to the imputation of revolutionary principles. Chronicle. ling. The distress of the colonists is unpa- DOMESTIC NEWS. testimony of their entire approbation of the accuracy, assiduity, and intelligence of Mr. Henderson, the secretary, unanimously voted the following resolutions : 1st, That the cordial thanks and gratitude of the company be now repeated to the directors. 2d, That there shall now be presented from the company to Mr. Gilchrist, the manager, the sum of one thousand five hundred guineas besides a piece or pieces of plate of the value of five hundred guineas. 3d, That there shall now be presented by the company to Mr. Henderson, the secretary, the sum of one thousand guineas. London, December 16. His Majesty has been uniformly composed through the last month, and has enjoyed good general health, though his Majesty's disorder continues unchanged. The stock of the Bath Savings Bank already amounts to 20,0001. Since the establishment in the month of July 1816 of the York Savings Bank, about Ten Thousand Pounds have been deposited, of which a considerable sum has been repaid to the depositors, but there is now in the hands of the society between Seven and Eight Thousand pounds. Thursday a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, when Mr. Pearsall presented a memorial from Mr. Payne, clerk of the Justice-room in Guildhall, stating the immense number of vagrants which crowded the streets and jails of the city, in filth, wretchedness, and disease, without having any fixed place of settlement in this country; and hoping that the Court would take into its earliest consideration, the propriety of providing for this unfortunate class of people. The memorial was referred to a Committee. The police report shews, that in the last year nearly 2,000 culprits under 20 years of age, were confined to the prison of the metropolis alone: about 1,300 of whom were under 17 years of age, while 957 of this early age were confined for felonies. The police committee recommends a penitentiary system for juvenile offenders in the metropolis. Edinburgh, Nov. 19. In Spain there seems to be, as in old times, poverty and tranquillity. The people have got back their inquisition, and the government the only thing for which they thought it worth while to negociate, the slave trade for five years! A proclamation of the British government has prohibited the natives of this country from embarking in the service either of Spain The last quarterly court of the proprietors or its colonies during their contest. The ar- of the British Linen Company's bank, which dour of enterprize, however, does not appear was very numerously attended, the court conto be damped. The Emerald, Captain Wheat-firmed the resolutions of the last court of proley, had sailed from the Nore with Colonel prictors to give a bonus of 25 per cent. on the Herries, and a complete establishment of offi- company's stock, and farther to increase the cers and non-commissioned officers, and men annual dividend from 9 per cent. to 10 per to form a band, for a regiment of cavalry, des- cent. The payment of the increased rate of tined to join the insurgents in South America. dividend is to commence upon the 25th cur The Emerald, among other articles, which pre- rent, and the proprietors, of course, will receive bably consisted of warlike stores, had on board it upon the stock they formerly/held, and also a considerable number of cases containing rifle. upon the stock transferred to them as ther arms and pistols, and 200 barrels of gunpow-proportion of the bonus. And that, upon conder! 4th, That there shall now be presented from the company to Mr. Fleming, the senior teller, and eldest officer in the company's employ ment, in consideration of his long and faithful services during a period of 44 years, five hundred guineas. 5th, That it be remitted to the directors to consider and determine to which of the other officers and clerks of the company it will be proper to make a donation at present, and to what amount, and in what proportion corresponding to their merits; and that the directors order the same to be paid to them accordingly. On the 25th ult. at a general meeting of the proprietors of the Royal Bank Stock, it was agreed to add 500,000l., part of the undivided profits of the bank, to their capital. This they are enabled to do without any new subscrip tion. By this resolution 1001 stock will, after Christmas, be augmented to 1501. a On the the 26th the presbytery of Edinburgh met here, when there was laid before them a petition from several gentlemen and heads of families, stating that they had purchased the Episcopal chapel at the foot of the Cowgate for 4,0001., and that they proposed to make it Chapel of Ease to the Established Church, under the acts of the General Assembly. After reading the petition, it was ordered to lie on the table till next meeting. There were likewise laid before the presbytery, a letter and several papers from a number of gentlemen residing at Kensington, Jamaica, relative to the Presbyterian church which had been built in that place at the expense of 21,0001. They wished the presbytery to procure a person properly qualified to be minister of this church, to whom they are to give a salary of 1,0001. currency, besides a manse. A committee was appointed to take this matter into consideration and to report. The bill of interdict against the buildings at the end of the North Bridge has been presented, and the Lord Ordinary has appointed it to be answered, and ordered the bill and answers to be printed, that the opinion of the Court (2d Division) may be taken as to granting the interdict de plano, or deferring the prosidering the present situation of the company's hibition to proceed farther with the buildings affairs, the court, as a testimony of the high until the case be fully canvassed. In the sense which the proprietors feel of the merits meantime, the application for interdiet is to be of the directors, and of Mr. Gilchrist's emi-followed up by an action for setting aside the Another dreadful fire lately occurred at St. nent abilities and zealous exertions in con- contracts under which those buildings have John's, Newfoundland. The damage done is ducting the company's affairs so highly to the beeu commenced, and for declaring those conestimated at from 400,000l. to 500,0001. ster-advantage of every stock-holder; and as a tracts a violation of the rights of the feuars of It is reported, and we hope truly, that peace has been established betwixt our government and the Mahratta powers., December 20, 1817.] the New Town. The respondents afterwards applied in the Court on Saturday morning for an extension of time to answer the bill of suspension, from the 17th instant to the first boxday in January, which was granted. John Miller, Esq. and George Murray, Esq. are appointed resident magistrates of Easter and Wester Portsburgh. BURGH REFORM. Domestic News. Meetings on the subject of Reform have also been held in the Burghs of Dumfries, Sanquhar, Irvine, Dingwall, Wick, and Elgin. 191 its declination north, 9 degrees 14 minutes; its rotatory motion was in the direction of east and west. Dr. Black, well known as a light of the Pres-COURT OF SESSION.-SECOND DIVISION. byterian church in Ireland, and as a political character that has filled no inconsiderable space The petition and complaint presented to the in her history, after transacting his ordinary Court of Session against the late election of business, as usual, drowned himself in the rithe Magistrates of Edinburgh, as informal, is ver Foye, at Londonderry. He was seen to founded on the following grounds.-1st, That throw himself off the bridge, after divesting several members of the Council hold places of himself of his upper garments, and struggled On the 20th ult. a special meeting of the in-profit in gift of the Magistrates, which is con- against swimming, endeavouring to plunge corporation of Mary's Chapel was held, for the trary to the set of the borough: 2d, That others downwards. purpose of instructing the committee formerly have no place of residence within the royalty; of this melancholy event. No one can conjecture the cause appointed to co-operate with other public bo- and, 3d, That one individual was not a free-in worldly riches, and appeared perfectly happy Dr. Black wallowed dies in obtaining an alteration in the set of the man of the borough at the time of his election. in his domestic affairs. burgh. A mandate to the agent who carries The petition and complaint is at the instance on the complaint at the instance of Deacon of Deacon Alexander Laurie, and Alexander Laurie, authorizing him to assist them as com- Henderson, late deacon of the Goldsmiths. An plainers, or to bring new and auxiliary com- order of their Lordships to give Deacon Laurie plaints, was laid before the meeting, the purport access to the city records, and to furnish him of which went to pledge the incorporation to with extracts, has been issued. Deacon Laurie support the petition and complaint of Deacon twice protested and complained to the Court Laurie. It was moved by Mr. Brydon, and that their Lordships order had been evaded; seconded by Mr. Menzies Henderson, that the and in consequence, John Connel, Esq. Judgecommittee be instructed to sign all their names Admiral, was nominated commissioner by the to this paper; which motion was opposed by Court, to examine the records, and to order Deacon Touch, Mr. M'Intosh, Mr. Ballan- extracts from them, agreeably to the interlotyne, and others, on various grounds. The cutor of the Court. There appeared in supvote to sign was carried by a majority of above port of the petition and protests which have 80; 97 voting for, and 10 against the motion. been taken, John Clerk, George Cranstoun, Deacons Touch, Knox, Ballantyne, and 'Go- Francis Jeffrey, James Moncrieff, Henry Cockvan, withdrew their names from the commit-burn, John Archibald Murray, and Robert Bell, One hundred guineas was then voted by Esqrs. Advocates. William Bell, Esq. W. S. the incorporation to support Deacon Laurie's Agent. petition. tee. At a meeting of the Town-Council on the 3d, Deacon Laurie took a protest against the funds. of the burgh being expended in defending the validity of the late election of Magistrates. He was seconded by Deacon Anderson. The society of barbers of Edinburgh, have voted 251. from their funds, for the purpose of carrying on the proceedings now in progress in regard to the reform of the burgh. On the fith, a meeting of the inhabitants of this city took place, to receive the report of their committee respecting the means of bringing in an additional supply of water to the city, when an extract of an act of council was submitted to the meeting; after some discussion, it was agreed to approve the report generally, and to leave the committee to confer farther with the magistrates. Good saddle and harness horses are now much wanted throughout Great Britain, and are found to be scarce animals. dealers, at present, searching every part in the There are North of England for these animals, who are giving from 501 to 1501. each, very currently; few of them can obtain the number wanted. SOCIETY OF SCOTTISH ANTIQUARIES. held on the 28th ult. the following members At the anniversary meeting of this society, were elected office-bearers, viz. dent. John Graham Dalyell, Esq. first ViceThe Right Honourable Lord Dundas, PresiPresident. The Right Hon. Robert Dundas, Lord Chief Baron, second Vice-President. Henry Jardine, Esq. third Vice-President. Dr. Brewster, Thomas Allan, Esq. Dr. Farquharson, Sir George S. Mackenzie, Baronet, Keith, Esq. Sir Wm. Hamilton, Bart. John James Haig, Esq. Gilbert Innes, Esq. Alex. Dillon, Esq. Council. Robert Scott Moncrieff, Esq. Treasurer. Rev. Dr. Jamieson, and Alex. Smellie, Esq. Secretaries. Rev. Dr. Brunton, Secretary for foreign correspondence. A very full meeting of the Guildry was held ASTRONOMICAL INSTITUTION. on Tuesday, in Freemasons' Hall, to take into A sad catastrophe has befallen the stone At a general meeting of the Astronomical consideration their rights and privileges, as a beacon, which, for some years past, has been Institutiou, on Saturday se'ennight, Rear-AdCorporation, the state of their funds, and also erecting upon the Carr Rock, situate at the miral Sir William Johnstone Hope, K. C. B. the propriety of an alteration of the Town Po-entrance of the Frith of Forth, and lying about the Hon. Captain Napier, Royal Navy, Robert lity. In the absence of the Dean of Guild, two miles off Fifeness. The building was vi- Downie, Esq. and James Innes, Esq. were who had declined to call the meeting, or to at-sited by the superintendent on the 10th No-elected directors, in lieu of Dr. Hope, H. Jartend it, Mr. William Phin took the chair. Avember ult., and reported to be all in good dine, Esq. Lord Gray, and Sir William Forbes, variety of resolutions were unanimously a- order. On the evening of the 14th a very Bart. who go out by rotation. greed to. heavy swell of sea came ashore, and on the The Guild-brethren of Inverness, after hav-15th the ground swell still continued, but the ing passed several resolutions relative to Burgh weather was so thick and foggy that the rock Reform, recommended a subscription for de-could not be seen till the afternoon, when the fraying any legal expences which may be in-sea was observed to break upon it with much curred in the business. Upwards of 4001. was violence, but a great part of the building was subscribed in a short time. gone. The Burgesses and Guildry of Aberdeen have There will be four eclipses in the course of presented two petitions to the Court of Session, the ensuing year; three of which will be vi one for reducing the late election of the Ma-sible, viz. one of the moon at night, on the gistrates and Councillors of that city, and ano- 20th April; one of the sun on the 5th May; ther for appointing fit persons to attend to the and another of the moon on the 14th October. affairs of the Burgh in the meantime. On the 1st instant, about seven o'clock in At a meeting of the Burgesses and Guild-the evening, Dr Olbers, at Bremen, discoverbrethren of Ayr, held last week, resolutions ed a comet in the western shoulder of the Serwere entered into, to persevere with modera-pent, between the star K and that No. 104, tion, but without deviation, in their efforts" to according to the astronomer Bode. The comet obtain an alteration of the set or constitution is small bat brilliant, particularly towards the of the Burgh, and, particularly, an alteration centre. It can only be discovered by means of of the inanner of electing the, Magistrates and a telescope; at 14 minutes past seven, mean Town-Council." time, its ascension was. 253. degrees 6 minutes, CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SO CIETY. tural Society, on Tuesday last, the following dent. Henry Jardine, Esq. George Bruce, Norval, Mr James Macdonald, Mr. Walter |