A capital distinction has been introduced into our political termino-
logy, by a freeholder of Edinburgh county. When waited upon by Sir George Clerk some days ago to solicit his vote, he asked what were his principles in reference to our new elective system ? The Baronet answered that he was a Reformer. "Na, Sir George," said the free- holder, "you arc only a Conformer, and shan't have my vote." The retort is worth a wedge of gold.—Scotsman.
We tuiderstand that the site for the Scotch National Reform Monument is not fixed, nor, indeed, the architectural design ; which- very properly, be regulated by the funds. So desirous are the Committee of making the undertaking truly, national and popular, that
they have invited subscribers to name delegates to be members of Corn. mittee.—Edinburgh• Weekly Journal.
The Edinburgh Advertiser says—" A paragraph is going the rounds of the Journals repeating the story of the Duke of lirellington's intended
visit to Scotland, and stating that it is by special invitation from his friend and pupil, the young Duke of Buccleuch.' We have reason to know that no such visit was ever intended by the gallant Duke."
Some evenings ago, about twelve o'clock, a gentleman proceeding homewards along the New Bridge at Ayr, was surprised to discover a son of Neptune, who had been indulging in something more potent than three-water grog, sound asleep on the top of the parapet-wall of the bridge. The gentleman, assisted by another person who came up, laid hold of the snoozing bacchanalian, and safely placed him on the causeway of the bridge, very much to his surPtise, as he by no means could ac- count for his, having adopted such a dangerous sleeping-place.—Ayr Observer.
On Tuesday evening, about eight o'clock, David Blaikie, wright, in Holborn Street, Aberdeen, was found lying on the road, having been stabbed in the belly by a knife, the blade of which was found sticking in the wound. He was carried to his home, and the Sheriff and Pro- curator Fiscal were immediately sent for, who insvoltly repaired thither ; but the unfortunate man expired a few minutes before their arrival. George Mathieson, a shoemaker, has been committed to gaol, charged with the crime.—Aberdeen Observer.
The Aberdeen Journal gives the following exemplification, out of hundreds that might be given, of carelessness and inattention in the use of fire-arms working their deserved effects—" At Wil- liamston House, on the afternoon of the 10th instant, Alex- ander Castello, the butler, went out with a double-barrelled deto- nating gun, to amuse himself in shooting wild-fowl in the plantations on the river-side surrounding the lawn. Having discharged one barrel and reloaded, he incautiously forgot to uncock the other ; and on re- turning home, in leaping a fence within a short distance from the house, the gun came in contact with it ; when, melancholy to relate, it went off, and lodged the whole contents in his bowels. Medical aid was got without loss of time ; but of no avail, for after suffering two hours' most excruciating agony, he expired." And this was in Scotland, the country of Dr. Somerville.
A dreadful murder has been committed at Horncliff, not far front Berwick. Two lads, of the names of Paxton and Percy, had, it seems, had a dispute about a game-cock, which led to frequent quarrels ; and on Saturday they came to high words, and it is said eventually to blows. During the fight, Percy's father, all old man, procured a large knife, and deliberately attacking his son's opponent, stabbed him in the belly, cut- ting him across, so that his bowels, as he fell, protruded on the ground : he then turned upon Paxton's brother, who bad come up to assist, and stabbed him in several places. The first victim lingered till Sunday morning, when death relieved him ; the other young man still survives, but in a hopeless state. The old monster retired, after the murder, to a corn-field, and cut his own throat ; but not effectually, as he was found bleeding shortly after, and the wound having been attended to, he is likely to survive to stand his trial.— Caledonian Mercury.
At the market held last week in Tomintoul, a very serious affray took place among the country people attending the fair, during which a man was killed by a blow from a bludgeon.—inverness Journal.
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