SCOTLAND:
Another example of the deplorable spirit which animates so many of the office bearers of the linrch towards the Dissenters has come to our knowledge. Mr. Ferguson, of Raith, the well known Liberal Member for Haddingtonshire, and his family, have had the right of presentation for many years to several bursaries in the University of Edinburgh ; which they have hitherto been in the uncontrolled habit of bestowing on any deserving youths entering the University, without reference to their religious creed or the nature of their studies. This year, however, it so happened, that Mr. Ferguson gave a vacant bur- sary to the son of a most respectable Dissenting clergyman, who was coming to Edinburgh to attend the Humanity and other elementary classes of literature and science ; when, to the no small surprise of Mr. Fergioon, he received a letter from the Reverend Dr. Chalmers, intimating that, in terms of the original foundation of the bursary, the Senatus could not consent to receive a presentation in favour of any but a student of Divinity. Give us a few more instances continued for a few more years, ot such exhibitions as the Church in her zeal has made in the cases of Mr. Ilorsman, Mr. Brewster, and of Mr. Fergu- son's bursary, and we shall look in vain for the present Church Esta- blishment of Scotland. To resort to such petty means of annoying the Dissenters, is really unworthy of Dr. Chalmers, and can only have the effect of stirring up the passions of both parties, and widening the breach between them.—Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle.
The Tory papers are making much fuss about two letters from the Reverend Mr. Buchanan, minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow, to Lord Minto. Mr. Buchanan repeats several of the arguments of Dr. Chalmers and others against the course taken by Government in regard to the inquiry into the funds of the Scottish Church, and exhibits con- siderable bitterness against the Dissenters. Ile especially complains, that while the Churchmen are compelled to answer ,queries relative to the state of their funds, the Dissenters have the liberty of refusing to answer them,—forgetting the material fact, that the Churchmen, not the Voluntaries, are the petitioners for public money, on the plea of poverty. Mr. Moncrieff (grandson of Sir Henry), in a letter to the Scottish Guardian, bad reminded Mr. Buchanan that the Dissenting Board objected to the queries addressed to them ; from which Mr. Buchanan chooses to infer, that the state of their funds is so low, and their pecuniary condition so desperate, that they dare not answer the questions of the Commissioners, while they dread at the same time the inference which must be drawn from their reluctance to reveal the state of their affairs. But what have the public to do with this, so long as the Voluntaries abide by their principles, and do not ask Parliament for money ?
The Reverend Mr. Jackson has been appointed to the vacant Profes- sorship of Theology in the University of St. Andrew's. This appoint- ment will, we have no doubt, be approved by all who are acquainted with Mr. Jackson's talents, acquirements, and character, or who have seen the very satisfactory attestations of his worth and abilities which have recently been exhibited by his friends. He was distinguished at an early period of life, by receiving a very flattering testimonial as to his at- tainments from the late amiable and excellent Dugald Stewart, who was remarkable for his discriminating knowledge of character. We
are therefore persuaded that the appointment will give general satisfac- t on..—Courier. [It has given much dissatisfaction to the Tories, and has scarcely been defended by the Liberals, who were in some measure acted upon by Tory misstatements. From what we have lately heard, however, both as regards Mr. Jackson and the University, the appoint- ment seems unexceptionable.]
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