Office Bearers elected by different Societies. other, the Western part of the ifland. Sir John Clark, Sir Philip Anfie, Mr Solicitor Dundas, and several other Gentlemen, having given their opinion, a Committee was appointed to take the corn-laws into confideration, and to meet with the other Counties, or delegates chofen by them, fo as to bring this important bufinefs to a defirable iffue. -15. The Magiftrates and Council appointed Mr James Finlayfon Joint Profeflor of Logic in the Univerfity of Edinburgh with Mr Bruce, with the furvivancy. 15. Laft night, between twelve and one o'clock, a tradefiman was at tacked in the Grafsmarket by three people, who robbed him of what mo ney he had upon him; and, betwixt three and four o'clock this morning, a carter was attacked, on the Eafter road between Leith and Edinburgh, by three 'men, who robbed him of his watch. One of them made a ftroke at his throat with a knife, which cut his upper lip. 16. This day Thomas Ryder, Miles Holland, and Daniel Davoren, three foldiers belonging to the 56th Regiment, at prefent in the Castle, were apprehended and examined by the Sheriff, and thereafter imprisoned on suspi» 'cion of having been guilty of the above robberies. 481 and three from the Chamber of Commerce) to prepare and lay before another general meeting, to be fummoned when the Convener of the committee faw proper, fuch a plan as they fhall after mature deliberation deem expedient for the good of Scotland at large, which they will then take fully into confideration. 35. This day being St Andrew's Day, the tutelary Saint of Scotland, the Grand Officers of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Mafons, attended by the differ. ent Lodges of this city and neighbourhood, and by Reprefentatives from thofe fituated in diftant parts, affembled in the New Church. Ayle about twelve o'clock, where they made choice of the following Gentlemen: The Hon. FRANCIS CHARTERIS, MARRIAGES.-Nov. 9. Sir James Hall of Dunglafs, Baronet, to Lady Helen Douglas, daughter to the Earl of Selkirk. 13. At Kerfe, Gabriel Gray, Efq; of Scotton, to Mrs Weir, widow of George Weir, Efq; of Kirkwood. 27. At Port-Glafgow, Mr Humphry Colquhoun merchant in Glasgow, to Mifs Ann Lamont, daughter of the deceafed Alexander Lamont of Knockdow, Efq. 35. At Glasgow, Mr Alexander Bonnar banker, to Mifs Sarah Maccall, daughter of John Maccall Efq; of Belvidere. BIRTHS. Nov. 1. Mrs Forbes of Blackford, of a fon. 9. The Lady of Henry Drummond, Efq; banker in London, of a fon. 24 Mrs Macleod of Čadboll, of a fon. DEATHS.-Nov. 2. Thomas Glen, Efq; phyfician in Edinburgh. Mifs Jean Nisbet, daughter of Sir John Nisbet of Dean, Baronet. 5. At the Manfe of Belhelvie, Mrs Ifabella Syme, fpoufe to the Rev. Mr Forsyth. 6. Lieutenant Archibald Ramfay, late in the fervice of the Hon. East India Company. At Ecclefmachen, the Rev. Mr Charles Wilkie, minifter of that parish. 8. At Kennoway, the Rev. Mr William Arnot. 10. Mr Gavin Elliot, mercht. Lond. II. At Dundee, David Sandieman merchant. 12. Thomas Pate, Efq; of Greenbank, in the county of Renfrew. 15. At Kelfo, Col. James Dawson, late of the 58th Regiment. 16. John Home, Efq; of Ninewells. Sir James Colquhoun of Lufs, Bart. At Glasgow, Mr J. Young, mercht. 16. At Balfron, the Rev. Mr James Mitchell. 17. Dr John Hope, Prefident of the Royal College of Phyficians, Profeffor of Medicine and Botany in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, Senior Phyfician of the Royal Infirmary, and Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh. Dr Hope's merit as a Botanist was eminently confpicuous. Before his filling this chair, the botanical garden of Edinburgh scarce deferved that name. It is now one of the best in Europe, being well stocked with curious, rare trees and plants, which have been raised and brought to maturity under the fofter ing care of this eminent Profeffor. 1 18. At Glafg. Mr J. Trokes mercht. 2. Hugo Arnot of Balcormo, Efq Advocate; author of the Hiftory of E dinburgh, and other works. 23. At Kirkgunze on, the Rev. Mr William Clarke, minifter of that parish. 23. At Glasgow, Mrs Anne Buchanan, relict of Hugh-Sproule Crawford of Cowdenhill. 25. At Alva, the feat of John Johnftone, Efq; Dr Ebenezer Macfait, whofe eminence as a mathematician, and worth as a man, were univerfally known; his philofophic behaviour throughout life, and to his laft breath, bearing teftimony how deeply he had ftudied, and how well he imitated his favourite model, Plato. 1 25. At Glafgow, Mrs Helen Wedderburn, wife of James Finlay of Bogfide, Efq. 26. Mrs Ifobel Davidfon, daughter of the deceased Mr James Davidson of Haltree. 26. At Kilmaurs, the Rev. Alex. Gillies, minister of that parish. 27. At Port Patrick, George Campbell of Airies, Efq. At Edinburgh, Mrs Eliz. Scott, Cheffels's Court. 27. Mrs Helen Monteith, widow of John Kennedy, Efq; of Kilkenzie. 28. At Cumbernauld-Houle, the Right Hon. Lady Anne Stewart, Dowager of Ruthven. 28. At Balbairdie, Mrs Magdalen Marjoribanks, daughter of the deceafed Andrew Marjoribanks, of Marjoribanks, late one of the Commiffaries of Edinburgh. 28. William Wallace, Efq; Advocate, Sheriff-depute of Ayr-fhire, and Profeffor of Scots Law in the University of Edinburgh. 29. At his houfe in Rothefay, Ifle of Buté, in the 90th year uf his age, James Bannatyne of Kames, Efq. Loss of the Cato in the all inuies. plates in the Paris edition are to be copied. In confequence, all the plates that could be procured in France and Italy have been bought up. This re 403 my dominions; and the very apprehenfion of it would be fufficient to detroy the pleafure which otherwise I fhould derive from an aeroftatic ex folution has met with very great diffi-periment, conducted by the most enculties; the Mufti has opposed it with all his might; but, for all that, the project of civilizing and enlightening the nation is vigorously pursued.": The Emperor of Germany, who leaves nothing unattempted to promote the commerce of his fubjects, has obtained a Settlement on the Black Sea, with free navigation of the Canal of Conftantinople into the Mediterranean, a privilege on the fuccefs of which the greatest advantages are expected. Some fhips have already paffed that way, and a communication between. Conftanti nople and Vienna, by means of the Danube, is likewife in contemplation. The following is a translation of two letters, the one from the Emperor, the other from the King of Pruffia, to Mr Blanchard, who had folicited permiffion of thofe Sovereigns to make aeroftatic experiments in their dominions: I received your letter, Mr Blan'chard. By various experiments made in different places, you have fo fully gratified the curiofity of all those who were your fpectators, that there re'mains no doubt of your fuccefs. But it is not until, by your fcientific ac"quirements and repeated experiments, you fhall have found out a method by which you can render those travels, which you denominate aeroftatic, ufeful, that you can afford me any pleafure in coming to Vienna to inftruct me on the fubject. In the mean time, I remain yours affectionately, (Signed) JOSEPH. lightened mind. For the fe reasons, muft decline the offer you make me ; at the fame time praying fincerely to 'God, that he may take you under his protection. (Signed) WILLIAM.' have fold all the wardrobe of their deThe pages of the late King of Prussia ceafed mafter for 400 rix-dollars; but the Jews, who purchased it, fold it again for four thoufand; not owing to the value, but merely to the enthusiasm of the people, who difcovered fuch eagernefs to poffefs a relic of that monarch, that an old lady gave two hundred rix-dollars for a pair of breeches. His Majesty had but eleven shirts, at leaft no greater number was found among his linen. Paris, Nov. 9. Great hopes are entertained that the diffentions in Holland will fubfide of themfelves, that each party having gone too far, as is conftantly the cafe, will give way; and that the attempt will fucceed of conciliating the rights of the fovereign with the prerogatives of the Stadtholdership, notwithstanding the pretenfions fet up by the Provinces of governing themfelves as they lift, and fettling all differences in their own way, and the poinpous declarations of fome of them on this fubject. This consummation will be the work of the negociations and influence of the French and Pruffian courts. The French court have gone into mourning for eleven days, in compliment to the British court, for the Princefs Amelia. " Vienna, Nov. 2. 1786.' Letter from the KING of PRUSSIA. 'I am obliged to you, Mr Blanchard, ENGLAND. London, Nov. 13. The for the offer which you make me in following account, by a gentleman your letter of the 23d of October; lately arrived from the Eaft Indies, conand if I decline accepting it, it is ratains a fuller relation of the lofs of the ther on account of the intereft I feel Cato, than thofe which have already in your preservation, than for any o- appeared in the Calcutta and Madras ther caufe. Notwithstanding all the papers :—“In the beginning of the pre'confidence which might be repofed in fent year, fome rumours that had been your expertnefs and genius, the at- for fome time in circulation concerning tempts which you make are fo peri- the Cato, were confirmed by the arrilous, as by no means to fecure you val of a French pacquet boat at Ceyentirely from the fear of poffible dif- lon; the crew of which related, that a after. I fhould be moft fenfibly affer Maldive boat put off to them to barted if fuch an event should happen in ter cocoa nuts for brandy; and that 3 P 2 one *The Maldivia islands are a cluster of low islands in the Indian ocean, about 500 miles on this fide the island of Ceylon. one of the officers perceiving a piftol in the hand of the chief of the Maldive veffel, defired to examine it. Perceiving it to be uncommonly well mounted, he inquired how they came by it; when they informed him by means of a Moorish interpreter, who spoke tolerable English; that an English man of war had fome time before been caft away on one of the islands named Santa Maria, and that the failors wanted to take their wives and their daughters from them; whereupon the king refolved that they fhould die, and accordingly he artfully prevailed on them to remove to another ifland, pretending that he was uneafy at having fo many frangers near him. This propofal met the approbation of the Cato's officers and crew, and particularly as they de pended upon being furnished with a Maldive vellel, of burthen fufficient to, carry them to one of the nearest Englith fettlements. Upon the crew's being arrived on this ifland, a number of natives from the different iflands, who had been treacheroudly concealed in a large cave, rushed upon the unhappy English, armed with European and other weapons; and having overpowered them, threw them from a rocky precipice into a deep cavern; and thofe who were not killed by the fall, were erushed by heavy ftones thrown on them. The account further ftated, that moft of the Cato's company were drowned when the ship was wrecked; as the number who escaped did not amount to more than 140.It is fuppofed that this unhappy event took place in February 1783. 21. At the Bank 471,000 1. 3 per cent. Rock has been transferred on account of the Landgrave of Heffe; fa much being due on Heffan foldiers loft in the American war, at 301. a man. 28. Andrew Robinfon Bowes, Efq; was brought, in cuftody of Mr Ridgeway the tipftaf, and two other officers, into the Court of King's Bench, which, from curiofity, was extremely crouded. As foon as Mr Bowes was feated, the articles of peace exhibited a few days back by Lady Strathmore were again read. Mr Chaimbre, Counsel for Mr Bowes, declared, he was apprised of the recognizances in which Mr Bowes was to enter for a breach of the peace, but as he had been in town but a very few hours it was impoffible he could be prepared with fuch fecurity. Bowes was taken into the cuftody of the Mar fhal of the Court of King's Bench, until fufficient and proper fecurities could be found. A brilliant and high-finished picture of the French King, fet in diamonds, has been prefented by Mr Eden to his Majefty at St James's. He received it from the French King himself, in order to deliver it in perfon to the British Sovereign, as a commemoration of the promifed amity between both potentates, in confequence of the figning of the commercial treaty. The Bishop of Ofnaburgh's trustees, during his minority, made a faving out of the revenues of his bishopric in Germany, of 194,000l. fterling, which fum has been fince transferred over to him. The Duke of Bedford's trustees, during his minority, have increased the rental of his eftates in Middlefex upwards of 70001. per annum; and those in Bedfordfhire, &c. about 40001, per annum; the perfonal favings are alfo rated at 300,0001. -29. At a general meeting of the fubforibers to the defign of paying a public grateful tribute to the character of Mr Howard, held at the Crown and Anchor tavern in the Strand, Mr Alderman Boydell in the chair, Resolved, That as there is a great difference between the request of an individual and that of a community, there is room to hope Mr Howard may, upon due confideration, overcome the repugnance, teftified in letters to feveral of his friends (and by them communicated to the meeting) to the objects propofed by this fubfcription, and confent that a grateful commurity may, by erecting a Latue to him, do itfelf the honour of fhewing that it is not unworthy of fuch a member. The following is the total ordinary of the navy, as made up to the 30th of November, and delivered into the Admiralty. At Plymouth Thirty-eight fhips of the line from 110 guns to 64 guns, two of 50 guns, twelve frigates from 44 to 24 guns, and four floops. At Portfouth. Forty-fix fhips of the line from 54 to 108 guns, one of 50 guns, twenty-nine frigates from 26 to 44 guns each, and eight floops. At Chatham. Thirty-five fhips of the line from 90 to 64 guns, eight of 50 guns, twenty-one frigates from 44 to 26 guns, and eleven floops or cutters. At Sheerness-Seven fhips of the line of 74 and 64 guns, twelve frigates from 38 to Experiments on Lord Dundonald's Coal Tar. 485 38 to 28 guns, five floops and four cut-, communicating to that noble pile of building, which fortunately was effected. ters. At Woolwich.-One fhip of 74 guns, one of 50 guns, twenty frigates from 44 to 24 guns, twelve floops and two cutters. At Deptford.-Nineteen frigates from 26 to 44 guns each, thirteen floops and one cutter. In all, at the feveral ordinaries, on hundred and twenty-feven fhips of the line, twelve of 50 guns, one hundred and thirteen frigates, and 60 floops. SCOTLAND. Edinburgh, Dec. 4. Came on before the Court of Jufticiary, the trial of an eminent Distiller, for 66 the crime of bribing, or attempting to bribe the Solicitor of Excife, by thrufting into his pocket a paper parcel containing five hundred pounds in Banknotes, with the following words wrote on the infide of the cover, "This to be repeated once a year." Next day the Jury, which confifted partly of country gentlemen, and partly of citizens of Edinburgh, returned their verdict in the following words, "They all in one "voice find the delivery of L. 500 proven; but do not find the intention "of feducing and corrupting proven." The pannel was therefore affoilzied fimpliciter, and difmiffed from the bar. 66 2. Came on the election of the Annual Presidents of the Royal Medical Society, when the following gentlemen were chofen : Dr Edmund Goodwyn, 7. The Natural History Society Thomas Smith, Prefidents. James Cunningham, Treafurer, 12. A fire broke out in Befs-wynd at the back of the Parliament Houfe. Before it was got under, it entirely confumed three tenements, and damaged feveral others. Being fo near the Parliament houfe, where the principal records of the kingdom are depofited, and where alfo the invaluable library belonging to the Faculty of Advocates is kept; every precaution was naturally used to prevent the flames from Miles Halhead and Daniel Davoren, foldiers in the 56th regiment, were. tried before the Court of Justiciary for. street and highway robbery. The jury, returned a verdict, finding Daniel Davoren guilty; but finding the libel not proven against Miles Halhead. The former was condemned to be hanged on the 17th of January, and the latter was. affoilzied, and difmiffed from the bar.. Thomas Rider, an accomplice, was ad mitted as an evidence. The Royal Medical Society have e lected, as their Commitee for publication, the following gentlemen :-From the Royal College of Phyficians, Drs. Black, Rutherford, and Henry Cullen; from the College of Surgeons, Meff Bell, Hay, and Ruffel; from their ordinary members, Meff. M'Kenna, Taywife made choice of Dr John Brown and lor, Gerard, and M'Laurin; and likeMr Fife for their Secretaries. By a letter from Holland, we are informed of the fuccefs of fome experiments made to afcertain the efficacy of Lord Dundonald's Coal-tar against the Early in ravages of the fea worm. the Summer 1785, piles of wood covered with this tar made hat, were driven into the fea at fuch places as are known to be remarkable for abounding with worms. In September laft, they were, taken up, and not the loaft appearance of the worm could be traced; while other piles that had been covered with cominon tar, and with white lead and oil, were found very foul with weeds and barnacles, and much affected by the worm. The valuable difcovery of extracting tar from coals promises to be a great advantage to this country. Mr Whitworth has given in two plans to the Magiftrates for enlarging the harbour of Leith, which for fome years paft has been found inadequate to contain the shipping. The first is, to make a wet bafon in the low grounds to the fouth of Leith Mills, between the Bonington road and the river, which would conveniently hold one hundred and twenty fail of fhipping; the expence of this, with deepening the bed of the river, purchafing the grounds, erecting a lock, &c. Mr Whitworth estimates at 14,134 1. 4s. 5 d. The fecond plan is, to make either a wet or dry bafon upon the fands of North Leith, the expence of which he estimates at 19, 9871. 75. Deca |