SCOTLAND.
The Montrose Review announces that Mr. Chalmers is about to retire from the representation of the Montrose Burghs ; and a number of the electors have determined to give no support to any individual who has an acre of land, and others to none " opposed to the Christian right of the people to choose their own pastors."
A meeting of landowners, tenants, and others of East Lothian, was held on Friday last, at the Assembly-rooms in Haddington. Among the company, were Sir George Warrender of Lochend, Sir George Grant Suttie of Preston Grange, and several gentlemen of local influ- ence. Sir George Warrender, who was called to the chair, would not take his seat until he had explained that he approved the Income-tax, and that it was generally approved in the county. He also " rectified a mistake ": he understood it to be meant, not only that the tax would be assessed on half the rent of the tenant, but that only half the amount imposed on other incomes (namely aid. in the pound) should be im- posed on the farmer's income. Sir George's explanation was received with doubt by the meeting. Mr. Aitchison of Drummore declared, that even with the present protection farmers cannot make fortunes. The protection afforded to oats and barley by the new Corn-bill is in- sufficient : even after three bad harvests, Russian oats had been offered at 12s., and that price, with 7s. duty, would make I9s.; a price at which no one present could grow them. Mr. Ainslie of Elviogston pointed out an inconsistency in the proposed duties of 88. a hundredweight on meat and of 11. a head on live cattle : if an ox of forty stone were im- ported, the duty would be 1/. ; but his carcass could not be imported under Hs. The only advantage to compensate for the diminished pro- tection would be to make rape and oil cake cheaper ; but they are to be made dearer. Mr. Sawers of Newhouse, who moved one of the resolu- tions, complained that the changes in the Tariff did not go far enough: he objected to class-legislation, and preferred the propositions of the late Ministry. For these remarks he was somewhat hissed. Resolutions were passed professing that the meeting were not opposed to a relaxa- tion of the present Corn-law, or to a change in the mode of taking the averages; but pronouncing the proposed scale of duties on foreign barley and oats not to afford sufficient protection; condemning the change of duties on the importation of live stock and provisions, which would render tenants unable to fulfil contracts with their landlords, arrest im- provement, and throw labourers out of employment ; professing willing- ness to submit to an income-tax, but urging a just apportionment ; de- claring that the tenant's profits do not amount to the half of his rent; and commending the reduction of duty on clover-seed, but censuring the increase of duty on foreign oil and rape cake.
The Strathbogie Farmer Club have held a meeting, and unanimously adopted a petition against the importation of live stock under the new duties.
At the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, on Thursday and Friday, John Gordon Robertson, a surgeon, James Spence, a miller, and James Blair, a wright, were tried for participation in the disgrace- ful riot at Culsalmond Church, during the induction of Mr. Middleton by the Presbytery of Garioch. The Presbytery were obstructed by an unyielding crowd ; the pulpit was filled by rioters; stones and bits of iron were flung at the ministers ; and they were greeted with indecent expressions. In the tumult, according to several witnesses, Dr. Ro- bertson was a delighted actor ; and in particular he gave instructions to the rioters to " full the poopit." Walker cried out that he was going to give out " Chevy Chase—Culsalmond psalms "; and Spence threw something at the Presbytery seat. The evidence in exculpation went to contradict Robertson's active participation in the disturbance ; and it was contended for Walker that his bad joke, though improper, was not criminal ; for Spence, that he was a stranger to the parish and a mere spectator. The Jury declared Robertson "not guilty," and the charge against the others " not proven "; an award which the audience received with applause, instantly checked by the Lord Justice Clerk.
Some days ago, Mr. Noble, the minister of the parish of St. Madoes, opened the church for a Nonintrusion meeting ; at which Mr. Maitland Makgill Crichton lectured at great length. This meeting was got up without the knowledge of Sir John Richardson, the patron of the living and principal heritor of the parish. Sir John, however, about six days ago, applied to the Sheriff to interdict the minister and all others from using the church for such purposes. Out of special respect for the judg- ment of Mr. Sheriff Whigham in the late Kinfauns case, Mr. Sheriff Barclay at once granted interim interdict in this case. In respect of no answers having been lodged yesterday, the interdict was declared per- petual, and the minister found liable in expenses.—Perth Courier, March 24.
A hurricane visited the West of Scotland on the night of Friday last. At Greenock, several vessels were dashed ashore, and others were driven from their moorings. The Queen's brig Skylark was in great danger : a collier ran foul of her, and carried away her bowsprit and part of the bulwarks, and she was afterwards driven aground at Gaim- ners Point ; but she was got off at the next tide, and carried into Green- ock to repair. On shore, the roofs and cbimnies of various factories were blown down. The roof of a house fell in upon two children, kill- ing one and breaking the leg of the other. At Glasgow, the gale was attended by lightning, and roofs and chimnies suffered severely. Two chimnies, one of them 130 feet high, at Garnkirk Fire-brick and Lime Works were blown down, and five men were buried in the ruins : two were taken out dead ; the others were badly hurt. The omnibus be- tween Renton and Dumbarton was stopped by the number of trees thrown over the road. At Largs, three gabberts were dashed to pieces against the quay, and two men perished.
Most outrageous means were resorted to in resisting a strike in the bleaching-works of Messrs. Cochrane, at Neilston, near Paisley, on Monday. The female workers had struck on account of a reduction of wages. About one hundred and fifty of them live together in a house in the village; and on Monday they refused to come out to work. Mr. John Cochrane, the youngest partner, said that he would drive them oat; and he directed a dish of bleaching-powder to be placed in the passage of the house, and sulphuric acid to be poured upon it, so as to smoke out the women with chlorine gas. The fames soon caused the utmost distress among the women, who could not escape through the passage on account of the density of the gas. Mr. John Cochrane be- came alarmed at his "joke," and he ran into the passage and carried out the dish. The women now came out into the open air, many of them alarmingly affected by suffocation, intense headache, excoriated throat, dizziness, and sickness : about eighty, of them were found to be suffering more or less. Medical assistance was speedily procured, and by the afternoon all the women were nearly well, except six or eight ; who were much better on Tuesday. Mr. John Cochrane was made to give bail, by the Renfrewshire Magistrates, for his appearance in case of any future proceedings.
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