SCOTLAND.
Mr. Craufurd, Member for the Ayr Burghs, addressed the electors and non-electors of Ayr, on Monday night. He presented his "balance- sheet"; touching upon and vindicating the votes he had given on the chief subjects of interest brought before the House of Commons last see- sion,—the Marriage Affinity Bill, and the bill for opening the Britieh Museum and National Gallery on Sundays, for both of which he voted ; the Lord Advocate's Education Bill, the Limited Liability Bill, the Newspaper Stamp, and other bills. In the course of his remarks, he- commented on the operation of Forbes Mackenzie's Bill—
He was convinced that the act had been productive of beneficial results; but whether it had done so or not, he was not one of those who would not give it a fair trial, even though he was convinced it was not fitted to pro- duce the benefits calculated upon by its first supporters. He believed that there was an agitation on foot for the purpose of having the act repealed or greatly modified. He would distinctly state that he believed the act had not been fairly tried ; and though in some of its details it might seem to press severely on certain classes, it ought to have proper time to work, and when it had gone its full time, people ought not to say "is it good ?" or "is it bad ?" but let a committee of inquiry be appointed, and let a full exam- ination of its working be made, and if it was then found to have effected good, let it be maintained. (Applause.) On the war Mr. Craufurd said, that notwithstanding all the rumours of peace, he believed the Czar would go on with the war as long as there is breath in his body. He did not believe we should arrive at peace by the treacherous interference of Austria; and until he saw material gua- rantees he would not think of listening to any proposals of peace.
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