Four months have nearly elapsed since the majority of the
Dundee flaxdressers struck work, in consequence of their employers reducing their wages. The strike was abandoned last week, but only a small proportion of the workmen have been taken into employment. The introduction of heckling-machines is the cause assigned for the limited demand which exists at present for hand labour.
The armed cutter which was lately sent to the West coast of Scotland for the protection of the herring-fishers has been withdrawn ; and its departure has been the signal for a renewal of those disgraceful acts of depredation and outrage which were complained of last season. It is pitiable to think that any portion of our fellow-countrymen should require armed men to restrain them from plundering our fishers, after the fashion of so many Indian savages ; but we are happy to hear that a sloop of war is said to be already on her way to replace the cutter which has been removed from the Western station. We have just been informed that the fishery, which has hitherto been so lamentably unpro- ductive this season, is now beginning to improve.— Greenock Intelligencer.
The cholera still prevails in Paisley, Inverness, and Forres.
The following story, extracted from the Inverness Courier, is worthy to come from the land of second-sight. " Many of our readers will recollect, that a few years ago, a gentleman of respectable family and connexions in this county was unfortunately drowned in the Caledonian Canal, after just landing on its bank from a Glasgow vessel. He had lent his arm to a female passenger ; the night was dark, and by a false step both were precipitated into the water, where they perished. Very early in life, whilst residing in the East Indies, this gentleman dreamt that he was en- gaged, in company with several persons, in seeking for the body of a drowned man; they toiled long and anxiously, with lights, boats, and grappling-irons, but in vain. At length, when they were about to abandon the fruitless search, something was seen to rise slowly out of the water : it assumed the form of a human head, and to his horror he saw that the countenance was his own! .1Ie awoke in great agitation, and had some difficulty in shaking off the vivid im- pression left by this phantom of the night. Years afterwards, the same cir- cumstance occurred to him in the West Indies.. • The dream, with all its appalling accompaniments of seeming reality, haunted his couch, and terrified his imagination. His duties afterwards led him to return home, and he hoped he had for ever parted with the unwelcome vision. In this, however, he was destined to be disappointed : a third time did the same scene appear before him, as clearly and as indelibly imprinted on his mind aeon the former occasions. Ile talked of the singular circumstance among his friends, and many must yet remember the frequency and solemnity with which he spoke of the dream. At last it was realized in his own melancholy fate. He was drowned, as described above : lights were procured, and the body was searched fur, though in vain : but, just as the party were about to leave the spot, the head of the unfortunate gentleman rose up, and every feature was distinctly visible in the torch-light above the water. A very near relative of the deceased instantly exclaimed,
Ah, now Edward's dream is verified.'"
A strolling piper arrived a few weeks ago at Jedburgh, and is said to be the scion of some noble house, playing for a great wager ; but, be that as it may, the good people of the burgh have been highly amused with his eccentricities. He has taken up his abode at the Black Bull Inn, from whence he issues during the day, and amuses the auld wives and bonny lassies with the blowing on his chanter, and in the evening his levee is well attended by the knowing ones of the town, who are elated with the idea of holding familiar conversation with the heir of one of our Highland chiefs. Whether he be really what is alleged or not, we cannot say ; but it is said that he acts with great economy, and husbands well the baubees that are put into his philibeg. According to another account, he is on the contrary very lavish in his expenditure, and on this fact it is that the people rest their opinion of his being a man of wealth and rank. [There has been lately rather more than enough of this species of humbug; and per- haps the best mode of dealing with all such scions of noble houses in future, would be to commit them to the House of Correction as rogues and vagabonds. —Kelso Mail.
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