railway, where a good trade has been carried on. There is a tileand-brick work also at Townhill.

Banks.

(Pp. 385-388, 540-541.)-Branches of the Bank of Scotland, British Linen, and Commercial Banks, still continue, but the branch of the Edinburgh and Leith ceased many years ago; and in place of that of the Western, opened in 1846, and closed in February 1858, on account of the disastrous failure of the head bank in Glasgow, there is now a branch of the National, of which Mr William Beveridge, writer in Dunfermline, is the agent, formerly that of the Western.

National Security Savings' Bank.-The removal of this bank to the New County Buildings has already been noticed. It is open three times a-week, one of them being Saturday evening, from six o'clock to eight: Mr James Morris, treasurer; Mr John Beveridge, actuary and cashier; and Mr David Birrell, clerk.

The bank has existed in Dunfermline since 1815, and has been in connection with the National Security Savings' Bank since 1838. The following are a few particulars extracted from the report by the Committee of Management, read to the twentieth annual general meeting of the trustees and managers, held on 9th February 1858:

"Your committee have to express themselves greatly satisfied with the results of the year's operation, evincing, as they do, the continued appreciation of the benefits of the institution by the industrious classes. Notwithstanding the depressed state of trade in the district, and the high rate of interest allowed by the joint-stock banks, but for the panic caused by the stoppage of the Western and City Banks, the deposits, there can be no doubt, would have been considerably increased."

The amount received from depositors during the year, with interest credited them, was The amount repaid depositors,

Increase, including interest,

L.12,863 17 5

11,928 3 4

L.935 14 1

The amount of interest received during the year, with rent of
part of premises sublet, was,
L.1445 12 8
Interest to credit of depositors, L.1260 16 8

During the year 383 new accounts were opened. Total sum at the credit of such accounts, 20th Nov. 1857, L.2172, 1s. 9d. The number of depositors who closed their accounts was 303. The total sum withdrawn by them was L3605, 18s. 4d

It hence appeared that the sums in the new accounts were much smaller in amount than the sums withdrawn; the former averaging L.5, 13s. 5d., and the latter L.11, 18s.

The total number of accounts which had opened since the commencement of the bank in 1838 exceeded 6450.

The total amount of all the balances due to depositors on the 20th November last, including interest, was L.43,942, Os. 1d. The total number of receipts during the year was 3537, and amounted to L11,603 0 9

The total number of payments was 2088, and amounted to

Balance above receipts,

9

11,928 3 4

L.325 2 7

It is the regular course throughout the year to keep the whole funds invested with the National Debt Commissioners, excepting a sufficient working balance in the Commercial Bank; and a certificate was produced showing the amount invested, and the balance in the Commercial Bank, also certified by the agent, being L.562, 9s. more than all the bank owed to depositors. It thereby appeared that depositors have the Government security to its fullest extent.

It was also shown by a table that the average monthly receipts was L.892, 10s. 9 d., and the average monthly payments L.917, 11s. Old.

A tabular statement exhibited in its more important particulars the progressive advance of the institution,-viz., that from 20th November 1838-40 to 1857 the accounts opened rose from 1175 to 6461; the amount deposited, from L.20,313, 13s. 2d. to

L.184,841, 1s. 4d.; the principal and interest repaid, from L.7419, 7s. to L.152,879, 7s. 3d., and the transactions from 6029 to 76,792.

The following was submitted as the

The capital of the bank, exclusive of interest due by the National Debt Office and the Commercial Bank, was, on the 8th instant (8th Feb. 1858), of the following amount, L.43,293, Os. 3d.

In 1852 the Directors of the National Security Savings' Bank offered two prizes of five and three guineas each to the authors of the two best essays on "The Benefits of Savings' Banks to the

Working Classes." The competition was confined to working men in Dunfermline and the surrounding district. The judges were the Rev. Dr Johnston, Limekilns, the Rev. Dr M'Michael, Dunfermline, and myself. The essays were printed, and in an introductory note, of date 8th December 1852, by Dr M'Michael, he says, "Thirteen essays were given in: the judges had no difficulty in selecting the two best essays, but there was a diversity of opinion which of them should stand first; and it was resolved that the eight guineas should be divided into equal parts among the two successful competitors, without assigning any preference to either. It was also recommended that 'honourable mention' should be made of two other essays, with a reward of a guinea each. The recommendations of the judges were approved of by the Directors of the Savings' Bank, and on the evening of the 1st December the prizes were distributed in the Free Abbey Church by Mr Sheriff Monteith, after an able lecture on 'The Social Elevation of the Working Classes.' The sealed notes were opened, and the names of the successful candidates were read out, amidst the applause of the large audience assembled. The two foremost were Alexander M'Cansh, flax-dresser, and James Cousin, weaver. The names of the second-best were Alexander Jackson, Mr Whitelaw's foundry, and Alexander Carmichael, shoemaker, Guildhall Street. It may not be improper to add, that the judges expressed a very favourable opinion of the essays as a whole, which had been submitted to their inspection. They were characterised by sound principle, by mental vigour, and power of expression. The two best essays are published at a cheap rate, in the confident hope that they may prove beneficial to that large and interesting class who form the base of the great social pyramid."

There were Penny Savings Banks established in some of the factories and collieries in 1852.

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Guildry. The present Dean of Guild is Mr John Stenhouse. The late clerk, Robert Douglas, Esq. of Abbey Park, died at his beautiful marine villa of Craigdhu, near North Queensferry, on the 25th July 1858, in the 64th year of his age, after a short illness, much regretted. Besides the clerkship to this fraternity, he held for a long period the offices of agent for the British Linen Company's Bank, clerk and treasurer to the Queensferry Trustees, clerk to the Justices of the Peace, to the Road Trustees, to the

Heritors, and to the Gas Company, Eleemosynary of St Leonard's Hospital, and Sheriff-Clerk-Depute till June 1851, when he was succeeded by Mr George Barclay, who now holds office.

Incorporated Trades.-As the privileges of the incorporated trades or artificers in royal burghs in Scotland had long been considered vexatious and oppressive to the industrious non-freemen there, an act was passed intituled "An Act for the abolition of the exclusive Privilege of Trading in Burghs in Scotland," on 14th May 1846.

Horticultural Society.-This Society still continues in all its vigour. Every succeeding exhibition of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, gives high satisfaction. The first of its two exhibitions for 1858 took place in July, and was particularly admired for the variety and excellence of its collection, floral and culinary, sent not merely from the immediate vicinity, but from places at a considerable distance. The articles of competitors for prizes at these exhibitions are inspected, and premiums decided, by competent judges appointed for the purpose, and the names of the successful candidates are attached to their contributions before the exhibition commences. The numerous attendance of visitors of all classes, the delight which they manifest, and the praises which they bestow, are a great encouragement to the skilful and industrious gardeners. Sir Peter Arthur Halket, Bart., of Pitferrane, is the President, and John Meiklam, Esq. of Duloch, VicePresident of the Society.

There are some other societies in the town and vicinity, which devote themselves to particular branches of horticulture, chiefly floral, and have also occasional exhibitions, held generally in their own immediate neighbourhoods, the north-west and southern portions of the town.

Gas Company. In the year 1852 the Company determined to extend and rearrange their works, in order to keep pace with the growing wants of the community, and the improvements of apparatus and processes which science had introduced into the gas manufacture.

An additional gas-holder was erected, the chimney-stalk rebuilt, the retort-house extended, its walls heightened, and an iron roof put on; a new retort-bench and hydraulic main set up, fitted with fire-clay retorts of a larger diameter than those in