SCOTLAND.
The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce sent a memorial to the War Office, begging that measures should be taken for the erection of a bat- tery on the island of Inchkeith, for the protection of the Firth of Forth. In answer the War Minister states that the prayer of the memorial will be granted "in the confidence that the City of Edinburgh will produce a corps competent to man and work the guns." A regiment of Volun- teer Firth of Forth Artillery is at present in course of organization, to consist of companies stationed on both sides of the Firth of Forth, with headquarters at Leith.
Mr. William Chambers has given the people of Peebles, his native town, a hall containing museums and a library well stocked with books. On Monday it was inaugurated in the presence of many ladies and gentlemen of local distinction. Dr. Guthrie presided over the religious ceremonials which Mr. William Chambers desired should precede the opening of the institution. In a subsequent and secular discourse he said—" This hall— these rooms—these museums—that noble library—are, as you are all aware, the munificent gift of Mr. William Chambers to his native town—a munificent gift he has in his generosity and philanthropy, at the cost I may say of a fortune, bestowed upon this town and neighbourhood. I hold it to be a Bible rule—and it would be a wretched prudery instead of prudence were it to be otherwise—to give honour to whom honour is due ; and I have no hesitation in saying for myself, and I believe I have the sympathy of this audience, and the thousands and tens of thousands beyond this hall, when I say 1 honour the man that can make such a noble use of the means and the blessings which Divine Providence has bestowed upon him. I would to God there were more such men in our country ! Min may esti- mate the money that this noble edifice has cost Mr. Chambers, but no man' can estimate the good that it may do with its library and the means of know- ledge—divine and human, sacred and secular—in this age ; and if that man is worthy of honour who even opens a public fountain in a city with its sparkling, bright, and healthful waters to refresh the thirsty and wean the young from the temptations of the tavern, how much more honour is that man worthy of who opens a fountain of pure and heavenly knowledge to the present generation and the generation to come! In this money-seekinp age I will keep my plaudits for the man, not who makes money, but who makes right and noble use of it. It is far easier to get money and keep it stagnant as putrid water than to send it to irrigate and bless the earth."'
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