number of copies were delivered to the librarian, for the use of the Members of Faculty, and a letter was transmitted, on the 25th of that month, to the Dean, requesting him to call a meeting, for the purpose of considering that measure, to which their attention had been so carefully directed. "Notwithstanding the non-attendance of members, to whom I am informed printed copies of the letter to me had been transmitted by you prior to the meeting on the 23d, and notwithstanding the absence of others who approve of Lord Eldon's bill, there were present at that meeting, and there concurred in the resolutions then adopted, a greater number of the Faculty, than did concer in any of the resolutions which you describe as approbatory of the material provisions in Lord Grenville's bill. Un questionably the two bills are in some respects founded upon principles opposite to, and inconsistent with one another. My opinion as an individual is, that the first of these measures would have terminated in the destruction of the law of Scotland, though not intended to produce that effect, but that the second would preserve our law, and improve the administration of justice. The resolutions adopted on the 23d are certainly adverse to several important principles of Lord Grenville's bill; but they, with equal precision, sanction those of the bill introduced by Lord Eldon; at the same time, they suggest useful information for carrying those general principles into practical effect, such as the professional experience of the members of Faculty enabled them to supply. "I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) A. COLQUHOUN." The Hon. Henry Erskine, of Ammondel, Prince's Street. GLASGOW PUBLIC MEETING. In consequence of previous notice gi. ven by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, there was held, on Thursday, Jan. 7. in the Town Hall there, one of the most numerous and respectable meetings of merchants and manufacturers ever assembled in that city. His Lordship having taken the Chair, stated, that he had called the meeting for the purpose of considering the pro priety of expressing to his Majesty, at this important crisis, their firm determination to support, by every means in their power, his just rights, and the interests of the British empire. He then read the letter, requesting him to call the meeting, which was signed by about 40 respectable inhabitants; and stated, that he very much approved of the measure, because, if ever there was a time for unanimity and exertion to strengthen the hands of Government, the present was that time. After which Mr Black, the Dean of Guild, rose, and addressed the Meeting to the following effect: "MY LORD PROVOST, "The requisition for calling us together was truly so candid and explicit in itself, that very little more need be said upon the subject. It must at once have satisfied every person who read it or heard of it, what were the views and intentions of the gentlemen who made the requisition to your Lordship. I shall, therefore, only add, that in my mind, such an address is both necessary and proper. "It will require no argument, I am sure, to convince every gentleman present, that we live in the most eventful period that ever the civilized world saw, But I will not take up your time to detail the mournful events which we have lived to see. They have been too momentous, and are too recent, not to be well known to us all. But I wish to draw the attention of gentlemen to the result of all these unparalleled transactions. The result has been, I am sorry to say, the unbounded success of an unprincipled Usurper, and our inveterate foe, who, in consequence of these successes, is now ruling over the whole Continent of Europe with a rod of ironand who is using all his uncontrouled force, not only to dictate rigid prohibitions against our trade in every quarter, but to compel all the Continental Powers, many of whom have been long our allies, to combine against us in the war. Standing alone, it behoves us the more especially to be true to ourselves. It is expected that every man in Great Britain shall do his duty. It becomes us all, under such trying circumstances, and at such an important crisis, to rally round the Throne of our beloved Sovereign, and to assure him, that, be our him, that, be our privations ever so severe, or ever so long, we will support him at all times, by every means in our power, in his just rights, and for the interests of the British empire. "Glasgow now stands high in the scale of the empire. Its consequence is felt and well known. It has always been esteemed for its loyalty. It has been heretofore attentively listened to in all such expressions, and it will be listened to again. With great propriety, therefore, may this address be now transmitted to his Majesty, by a city which bas so much at stake, and whose example, on that account, may be frankly followed by others. "But I will detain your Lordship no longer, excepting just to read the resolution that is now proposed. "RESOLVED, that opposed him, and by fire and sword, has extended his sway over the nations around him. But it remained for our days to have seen an obscure individual, and a foreigner, by fraud and violence, seating himself on the throne of one of the most powerful Monarchies of Europe; converting the most polished and civilized nation into an armed multitude, ready to submit to every deprivation, to forego every comfort, and to sacrifice even life itself to serve the purposes of his insatiable ambition, and to extend the iron hand of his despotism over the whole of Europe. 66 Because we have hitherto kept out of his grasp, and have arrested his progress to universal empire, he has sworn eternal enmity against us, has threatened our utter ruin, and begun to carry his threats into execution, by shutting nearly every port, and raising up enemies to us, from one end of the Continent to the other. Our situation therefore is awful and impressive, and cannot be viewed without wonder and astonishment; but I hope there is no man who now hears me who looks upon it with fear and dismay. No; "the selfsame sun which shines thus upon him, looks not louring upon us. "That it will be proper, in this Meeting, at this important and momentous crisis, when the unbounded ambition of our enemy calls forth all the energies of his Government, and of his people, to address his Majesty, and to assure him of our firm determination to support, at all times, and by every means in our power, his just rights, and the interests of the British Empire;-and to state to him at the same time, that, although we "If it has pleased Providence, for must be supposed to feel the effects of wise purposes which we are unable to his adversary's exertions against the fathom, to raise this man to an unexamCommerce and Manufactures of the pled pitch of power and greatness, and Country, yet we have no interests but to preserve his life through every diffiwhat are identified with the dignity of culty and danger, have not we too been his Crown, and the independence of wonderfully protected from his grasp, these Kingdoms:-And further, that we and raised to a height of power hitherare fully satisfied it is only by perseverto unknown in the annals of our couning in prompt, wise, and vigorous mea- try? Have our shores yet been pollut sures, that we are to hope for the attained with blood? Has our navy been ment of our wishes-a safe, honourable, and lasting Peace." Mr James Hopkirk then addressed the meeting, in nearly the following words: "MY LORD Provost, "My sentiments accord so much with those which bave been so well expressed by the Gentleman who has moved the resolution, that little is required for me to say upon this occasion. We stand in a situation in which this country was never placed, since our existence as a nation. We have read in ancient times, that a barbarian, more fierce and crafty than the rest, has overturned, like a torrent, every thing Jan, 1808. swallowed up by the waves, or scattered by the winds? On the contrary, do not our fleets now ride triumphant from the farther shores of Hindostan, to the most distant boundary of the Atlantic Ocean? Has not that same Providence raised up for our defence a Nelson, and numberless others, given them wisdom to plan, and knowledge to direct the British thunder against the foe, till they have nearly swept their ships from the face of the ocean-Has not the same power nerved the arm, and fired the breast of our hardy seamen and soldiers with courage, made them ready to des pise every danger, and brave even death itself, in defence of their King and coun try; HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. On Monday Dec. 14. came on the trial of John Duncan, Exciseman at Glenluce, accused of murder or culpable homicide, by stabbing James Melvien, farmer in Float, on the military road, between Glenluce and NewtonStewart, on the 4th of August last.It appeared that the deceased was driv when he was stopt by the officers near Glenluce, and a scuffle ensued, in which Melvien was accidentally, but mortally wounded by a cutlass in Duncan's hand. The Jury retired to the Robing Room, and brought in their verdict, unanimously finding the prisoner Not Guilty when after a few words from the Lord Justice Clerk, he was dismissed simpliciter from the bar. try? Why then should we be afraid? Let us persevere in the contest with firmness and resolution, and I trust we may yet be the means of relieving suffering Europe from the bondage in which she is enthralled, and of restoring that permanent peace which we all desire: meantime it is our duty to be prepared for every event. If the enemy should dare to set foot on our shores, let us being two carts laden with smuggled salt, ready to meet him even in the shock of battle, and let us firmly resolve either to fall in the contest, or to return victorious, rather than to live slaves, and be witnesses to the ruin of our families and the desolation of our country. But it may not be the fate of any, or but few of us here present, to be called to the field; we have therefore, as men and citizens, other duties to perform. Let us bear, without repining, the deprivations which may yet be in store for us. Let us submit, without murmuring, to the burthens which it may be necessary to lay upon us, for the salvation of the state. Let each of us, when required, be ready to sacrifice his time, and exercise such talents as have been bestowed upon him, for the general welfare; and let us, without regarding whether this or that set of men rule the helm of affairs, be united in one mind, setting shoulder to shoulder, and foot to foot, striving for the victory; and we shall surely overcome the foe, and preserve that independence derived from our ancestors, and will transmit that fair inheritance to our children, without which, in my mind, life is not worth the preserving. At this eventful period, Britain requires all her sons to do their duty; and he that swerves from it is false to his King, and unworthy of his country. It would be a waste of words for me to occupy the time of this meeting longer, as I trust we are all of one mind; with pleasure, therefore, I second the motion." A Committee being appointed to draw up the Address, they retired, and produced one in terms of the Resolution, which was unanimously agreed to; and the same was directed to be signed by the Lord Provost, in name of the Meeting, and to be transmitted to Lord Hawkesbury, to be presented to his Majesty. Tuesday Dec. 22. came on the trial of James Biggs, for murder or culpable homicide.-The libel states, that, on the 17th of August last, while the prisoner was driving a chaise westward through the Grassmarket, instead of directing his horses with the caution requisite on such occasions, he run them, or the chaise, against John Anderson, servant to Messrs Hotchkiss and Lamont, brewers in Edinburgh, and he, having been thrown down, was so much bruised that he expired in eight or ten days. The Jury, who retired to the Robing Room, in about half an hour returned a verdict, all in one voice finding the pannel Not Guilty; upon which he was dismissed simpliciter, from the bar. Monday Jan. 4. came on the trial of Robert Dow, indicted at the instance of his Majesty's Advocate for theft.He pleaded guilty; and the Jury hav ing inclosed in the Robing Room, in about half an hour returned into Court with a verdict all in one voice finding the pannel guilty, in consequence of his judicial confession. He was sentenced to be transported beyond seas for life. Tuesday Jan. 5. came on before this Court, the trial of Barbara Malcolm, accused of administering poison to her daughter Margaret Sutherland, an infant of 18 months old, on the 8th of December last, of which she died in a few hours. The Pannel pled Not Guilty. A number of witnesses were examined, ed, from whose evidence it appeared, That the pannel, between two and three years ago, was a servant in the New Town, where she formed a connection with one Sutherland, a soldier in the Inverness-shire militia, to whom she had the above child. After her recovery, she put her child to nurse, and hired herself as a nurse to a family in the south side of the town. Finding that she was unable to support the child and herself properly, she went twice to Musselburgh in the course of last June, to see if the father of the child would give her any assistance, which he refused to do. From that period her temper, which was described to be very mild, underwent a material alteration. She did not appear to be the same person as formerly. On Sunday the 6th December, she visited her child, then residing with Adam Gordon, Lady Lawson's Wynd, Portsburgh. It had a sore mouth with the cold. Next day she bought some oil of vitriol from an apothecary's shop, which was put into a small vial. On the forenoon of Tuesday the 8th December, she again visited the child, carrying her mistress's child along with her. Both Gordon and his wife were in the house at the time. She gave her mistress's child to Gordon to hold, and took her own on her knee. Mrs Gordon went out on an errand, and her husband walked about with the child he had taken, paying little or no attention to the pannel and her daughter. In a short time he heard the child scream out violently, when he asked her what she was doing to the child? She answered, that she was only giving it some raw sugar; but it afterwards ap. peared that it was at that time she had poured the oil of vitriol down its throat. Gordon was not satisfied. He insisted to know what the child had got; when the pannel put a piece of sugar into his hand, and said it was only a part of that she had given it. Mrs Gordon soon after came in, when the pannel gave her some money to get honey for the child; and, while she was out for it, the pannel went away with her mistress's child, leaving her daughter in great agony, which increased during the forenoon. About two o'clock, a medical gentleman was sent for, who gave the child some medicine, which had no effect. She languished in ex cruciating torment till between five and six in the evening, when she died. Ja the course of the afternoon Gordon went in search of the pannel, whom he brought to his house, and endeavoured, along with some neighbours, to make her tell what she had given her daugh ter; she still insisted it was nothing but sugar. On the death of the child, she was taken to the watchhouse of the bounds by the police officers, and then she said she had given her daughter some sugar of lead. Next day she was committed to prison, and on the 10th she emitted a declaration before the Sheriff, in which she confessed she had giv en her daughter the oil of vitriol she had bought the day before. That the child died of strong poison, was clearly proved by the medical gentlemen who were examined, two of whom had opened the body after its death. The cloaths she wore were also produced in Court, and were burnt in several places by the stuff she had vomited. The evidence was summed up by the Lord Advocate for the Crown, and by Mr J. Murray for the pannel. After a very able and candid charge by the Lord Justice Clerk, the Jury retired to the robing-room (the Court having agreed to sit till they had made out their verdict,) and in a short time returned into Court with their verdict, finding, all in one voice, the pannel guilty of the crime libelled. The Court then sentenced her to be banged at the west end of the Tolbooth, on Wednesday the 10th of February next, and her body to be given to Drs Monro, for public dissection. In passing sentence, the Lord Justice Clerk addressed the unhappy prisoner, in one of the most able, eloquent and impressive speeches we ever heard on a similar occasion. Thursday, Jan. 7. came on the trial of Daniel M-Pherson, James Graham, and Donald M'Callum, soldiers belonging to the Argyllshire militia, indicted for the murder of John Simpson, a negro drummer of the 29th foot, at Aberdeen, on the 3d of September last. The pannels pled not guilty, but on account of the absence of a witness, further proceedings were delayed till Monday, when the Court, after admitting the witness to which the objection had been made made on account of inadmissibility, reserving the credibility of his evidence to the Jury, proceeded with the trial. The indictment charged, that the prisoners did, upon the night of the 3d of September last, forcibly break into the house possessed by Margaret Creek, tesidenter in Castlehill of Aberdeen, and did then, and within the said house, or upon the street near to it, barbarously, wickedly, and feloniously beat the said John Simpson with stones, and stab him with bayonets in diverse parts of his head and body; in consequence of the wounds thereby inflicted, he, the said John Simpson, was murdered by the prisoners, or one or other of them. At five o'clock at night the Jury were enclosed, and ordered to return their verdict on Wednesday, when the Jury accordingly returned their verdict, all in one voice finding the libel Not proven. After an excellent address from the Lord Justice Clerk, the prisoners were dismissed simpliciter from the bar. On the 28th Nov. Peter Macdougall, alias MacLaggan, convicted at the Circuit Court of Justiciary, held at Inverary in September last, of the murder of Mary Stewart, his late wife, and sentenced to be hanged on the 13th Nov. but afterwards respited by his Majesty for 14 days, was executed at Inverary, pursuant to the said sentence. COURT OF EXCHEQUER.--Jan. 19. A case was brought at the instance of the Crown against an auctioneer, for an evasion of the auction-tax. At a public sale, a few shares of stock were sold by auction, upon which the duty was offered; but it was admitted that a much greater number of shares were subscri. bed in another room, regulated by the public sale, upon which the duty was lefused. This the Lord Chief Baron, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the Court here, as well as the uniform practice in England, declared to be contrary to the law. Accordingly the Jury found for the Crown. COURT MARTIAL.-GENERAL ORDER. Adjutant General's Office, Edin. Jan. 7. 1808. At a General Court Martial, held in Edinburgh Castle, on the 28th of December, 1807, whereof Colonel the Earl of Dalkeith, of the Dumfriesshire regiment of Militia, was Presi dent, for the trial of Andrew Williamson, Private Soldier of the Edinburgh Regiment of Militia, upon the fol For having deserted from the Edinburgh lowing charge: Regiment of Militia, on or about the 11th of November last. OPINION AND SENTENCE. The Court having maturely deliberated on the evidence adduced in support of the prosecution, and the whole proceedings, is of opinion, that the pri soner is guilty of the charge, in breach of the articles of war; and therefore sentence him to be transported as a felon, for seven years, and at the expiration of that time to be at the disposal of his Majesty, for service as a soldier in any of his Majesty's forces at home or abroad, for life or otherwise, as his Majesty shall think fit. Lieut. General Viscount Cathcart, Commander of the Forces, approves of the proceedings and sentence of the above General Court Martial; and in publishing the same to the army in North Britain, his Lordship is sorry to add, that he finds it necessary to declare his determination, to carry in to effect, with the utmost rigour, every punishment awarded for the crime of desertion, especially when aggravated by the swindling practices of taking bounty as volunteers for the express purpose of deserting. This order to be read at the head of each corps of the regular and militia forces in North Britain, and entered in their regimental orderly books. By order of Lieut. Gen. Viscount Commander of the Forces, LORD NELSON.-The Column to the Memory of Lord Nelson, at Glasgow, is completed; and an eminent Sculptor has undertaken to execute the Statue of that illustrious Statesman, Mr Pitt.— Glasgow has thus had the honour of being the first City that contracted for a Statue of Mr Pitt, and erected a Column to the memory of Lord Nelson. The Committee which superintended the erection of the Column to Lord Nelson, have been for some time engaged in procuring appropriate inscriptions and devices for its pedestal. The following has been presented: то |