16 APRIL 1859, Page 7

SCOTLAND.

The annual Convention of Royal Burghs sat in Edinbugh on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh presiding. Among other business Mr. Duncan M‘Laren submitted the following resolutions, whioh he said he thought, even at a meeting representing almost every possible shade of political opinion in Scotland, would be generally con- curred in-

" 1. That provision should be made in any Reform Bill brought into Par- liament for givin_g to Scotland an equal proportional number of Members as compared with England and Ireland, and based on the comparative popu- lation and taxation of each of the three kingdoms."

"2. That no Reform Bill will give satisfaction which does not provide for such a reduction of the Burgh franchise as shall include on the electoral roll a large proportion of the working -classes." Professor Aytoun, while concurring in the first resolution, proposed the following as an amendment on the second- -" That no Reform Bill will give satisfaction unless it is such as to provide lot the admission to the electoral roll of that portion oft he working classes whose education, intelligence, and habits, qualify them for the exercise of the franchise."

Mr. Henry, Writer to the Signet, proposed an amendment to the effect that-no reduction of the franchise below 6/. yearly rental, ought to form part bf any Reform BM. On a vote, Mr. Henry's amendment was lost, by 28 to 12, and Mr. M€Laren's second resolution (the first being unani- mously agreed to,) was carried against Professor Aytoun's amendment, by 25 to 18. The Convention adjourned to the second Tuesday of April, 1860.

The Lord Advocate, Mr. Baillie, will fill the vacant seat on the judi- cial bench in Scotland, and will be succeeded as Lord Advocate by the regent Solicitor-General for Scotland, Mr. David Muir,