SCOTLAND.
The Lord Advocate was entertained on Friday at a public dinner, by about two hundred of the electors of Leith. Provost White presided ; and among the guests, were the Honourable Fox Maule and Mr. Gibson Craig. The Lord Advocate, in returning thanks, entered at great length into the questions of the Church and the Dissenters. Referring to the re- cent elections in Edinburgh, he said he was no party to that contest ; and that he refused to take any part in it, though application had been made to him by gentlemen of great influence of both parties. There had, he „considered, been faults on both sides. He never concealed his disgust at the sentiment expressed by the successful candidate, that these were times when a Dissenter should not fill the civic chair ; whilst there were circumstances connected with the great question of Church reform that were too keenly pressed on the other side. The Lord Advocate endea- voured to make a marked distinction between the cause of Church re- form and the grievances of the Dissenters. Though avowing himself a member of the Church, he expressed his anxiety to support reform, not on the principle of giving increased power to the clergy, but in- creased influence to the people in the appointment of their ministers. He then addressed himself to the complaints of the Dissenters, in re- ference to their exclusion from the Bible Board, and from the chaplaincy of gaols in the Prisons Bill— As to the Bible Board, it had been his wish to place Dissenters on the Board; but every one at all acquainted with legislation knew that there were prejudices to consult and opposition to encounter, which had frequently rendered it im- possible to carry what was hest, but compelled them to rest, contented with what might be best done. This consideration also applied to the other mea- sures—as to the Highland Schools, the Government Inspector, and the Chaplains of Prisons; although, as to the latter, he did think that it would be somewhat inconsistent in those to take a Government-endowed chaplaincy who thought it wrong to receive any pecuniary assistance from that quarter. He concluded by expressing a hope that his Parliamentary conduct had given satisfaction to his constituents.
The next toast was the health of her Majesty's Ministers ; which was drunk with cheers. The Chairman, in introducing the toast, said no set of men had done more for the country ; and they would have done more if they had been permitted to do it. Mr. Fox Maule returned thanks. He took credit to Ministers for having redeemed the three pledges they made on entering office—to advance reform, to maintain peace, and to practise economy.
" With reference to Reform, the glorious Reform Bill bears evidence on the statute-book of what the Whig Administration have done to this country ; and many practical reforms have been accomplished since, and I am sorry to
say many too have been defeated by a factious Opposition. With reference to the maintenance of peace, ten years have elapsed since that high authority, the Duke of Wellington, proclaimed in his place in Parliament, that no Adminis- tration could maintain the peace of this country for ten months. Yet ten years have elapsed, and the peace of Europe is not only yet unbroken, but I trust is about to be placed on that secure footing, that this Administration, and I amongst them, abhorring to see the calamity of war burst upon us, you may feel assured, that under your own vine and your own fig tree you may prac- tise the calling of peace with the most perfect security. With regard to eco- nomy, that same high authority which professed to demolish your hopes of peace, had stated also that he had economized so much that no Administration could proceed further in that part ; that six millions had been retrenched from the public expenditure : but you have now seen how little the Duke of Wel- lington was acquainted with the material economy practised in our public re- sources, and of which you can have no greater proof than in the consequences which the people of this country have felt from the spirit of economy established by her Majesty's Government. When the hour came that the credit of the country required to be supported by an increased taxation, the Representatives of Great Britain gave that support with the most perfect cheerfulness ; and I have not yet heard that they have had occasion to repent of their liberality."
Mr. Fox Motile took advantage of the news from India and China which had just arrived at Leith, to found additional claims for the foreign policy of Ministers- " These accounts are deeply gratifying; and I know no period—setting aside roy own connexion with her Majesty's Ministers, and my consequent bias pro- bably in their favour—I say I know no period when an Administration has had an opportunity of meeting the British Parliament with such a statement of British honour vindicated, and Britain's authority and moral influence esta- blished from one end of the world to the other." (Great and continued cheer-
In a subsequent part of the evening, when his individual health was drank, Mr. Maule took occasion to allude to the same topics that had been adverted to by the Lord Advocate ; and to vindicate himself from charges which had been brought against himself personally in reference to the Edinburgh elections and to the passing of the Prisons Bill-
" In this late controversy, which my learned friend has touched upon, and as to which I agree with him, that the sooner it is sunk in oblivion the better- m_y name has been mixed up, and I have been particularly charged on distinct offences. One offence is, that in the event of an election for the county of Perth, I have been accused of forming a compact with a particular class of individuals for the purpose—the venal purpose, I may say—of carrying the election for political ends. Whether that charge has been made in error, or with a conviction of its want of foundation, I will not say. I will treat it as made erroneously, and: as I hope in charity it has been ; and I will not touch upon it further than to give this public, honest, and conscientious contradic- boo to it, and to say, that those who so charge me with pandering to the re- ligious opinions of the people of Perthshire little know me or my character, and as little know the character of those Liberal electors of Perthshire whom they would make a party to so grave an offence. My name has been too much mixed up with one of those grievances on which my right honourable friend lately touched. I have been charged, in passing the bill for the ameliora- tion of Prison Discipline in Scotland, with having permitted a clause to creep into that bill which violated the great principles of civil and religious liberty. That such clause existed, I attempt not to deny for a moment ; that it ex- isted to my deep regret, I hope all who hear me will believe. The circum- stance of that clause seems not to be distinctly known. I was aware of its in- troduction. But the period of the session at which that bill passed was late; it bad been already suffered to fall during one session ; it was almost eraperilled by its lateness during another; and when that clause was introduced, I was not aware that it would affect anybody whatever : but I was since aware that it did affect a most respectable gentleman—one who had long and faithfully dis- charged the duties of Chaplain in the Gaol of Edinburgh ; and I shall only say, that if I had been aware any person would suffer by its introduction—if 1 had not been able to repudiate it—I would have, at all events, endeavoured to pre- serve the existing interests."
After a number of other toasts had been given, the meeting separated.
The Lord Advocate and Mr. Fox Maule have declined the invitation from the Non-Intrusion "members and friends of the Church of Scot- land, residing in Edinburgh and its vicinity "; on the ground " that any public meeting, such as is proposed, might injure instead of advancing the common object."—Edinburgh Weekly Journal.
We have reason to believe, that among the earliest questions of im- portance which will be brought before the Legislature on its re- assembling, will be the present position of the Church of Scotland.— Morning Chronicle.
A requisition signed by one hundred and ten electors has been sent to Dr. Bowring inviting him to come forward as a candidate for the repre- sentation of the Kirkcaldy Burghs, in opposition to Colonel Ferguson. The Edinburgh Observer throws cold water on the Doctor's hopes- " The general feeling in Kirkcaldy is, that the Doctor has no chance, even though he come forward ; as it is well known many have given their names in the hope of hearing Dr. Bowring, but do not consider themselves pledged to give him their votes. The original intention was, not to send the requisition unless one-third of the electors subscribed it ; but it has been despatched with little more than a fifth, though the most active means were used to obtain signatures."
In the parish-church of Marnoch, on Sunday, the edict for the induc- tion of Mr. Edwards was served. The attendance in the church was thin, and there was no indication of feeling on either side.
On Thursday morning, the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh met with closed doors, for the trial of Alexander M`Ila, or M'Rae, accused of a capital assault upon a young girl, fifteen years of age, in the county of Inverness, on the 28th August last. The Jury brought in a ver- dict, unanimously finding the prisoner guilty of the major charge. He was sentenced to be executed at Inverness on Friday the 29th January current. Milne was some years ago a large farmer and cattle- dealer in Inverness shire, and we understand the case was a very atro- cious one.—Caledonian Mercury.
The " lady thief," whose adroit robberies at hotels in Glasgow were noticed a short time since, was convicted at the Glasgow Circuit Court on Saturday, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment.
On the Slamannan and Glasgow Railway, on Tuesday, the engine of the evening train, with from fifty to sixty passengers, ran off the rails when going at a rapid rate, to make up for lost time. The first and seeond carriages were overturned with great violence, on opposite sides of the road. Several passengers were severely injured.
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