6 APRIL 1839, Page 5

SCOTLAND.

A meeting was held in the Waterloo Rooms, Edinburgh, on Mon- day, summoned by the Lord Provost, in compliance with the request of "a large body of his fellow citizens," for the "purpose of addressing her Majesty in support of the principles on which her Ministers have hitherto conducted the administration of Ireland." About three o'clock, the Lord Provost entered the room. He was accompanied by Sir James Gibson Craig, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Sir John Robinson, General Mayne, Colonel Kinnaird, Mr. James Ivory, Mr. James Mon- crieff, Mr. anaren, with many other leading Edinburgh Whigs. The Chartists, headed by Mr. Fraser and Mr. Robert Douglas, had pre- viously arrived in considerable numbers, and occupied at least half of the body of the room. Sir James Gibson Craig moved that the chair be taken by the Lord Provost. Immediately much uproar occurred ; in the midst of which, the Lord Provost, apparently unaware of any opposition to the motion, moved towards the chair ; but Mr. Fraser, from the body of the meeting, declared the dissatisfaction of the Chartists with his con- duct on previous occasions—saying, that they had been juggled twice, bat would not be juggled again ; and therefore he moved that Mr. Robert Douglas he chairman. Sir James Gibson Craig rethsed for some time to put the motion, as it was derogatory to the dignity of the meeting; but finally, to put an end to the tumult, he agreed to propose

the Lord Provost again. The Whigs held up their hats as well as their hands ; and Sir James pronounced- the show of hands in favour of his

own side. This Mr. Fraser stoutly denied ; but, as the numbers were nearly balanced, he proposed that Mr. Douglas should net as joint- chairman with the Lord Provost. Mr. Douglas, amidst cheers, hisses, and laughter, made his way to the platform ; and Sir Thomas Dick Lauder offered him a pinch of snuff front his "mull ;" whereat the meet- ing, which seems to have preserved its good-humour, laughed heartily.

The Lord Provost, however' as soon as he could obtain a hearing, declared the meeting dissolved ; and, with his Whig friends, left the

room. The Chartists having gained possession of the ground, pro- ceeded to pass resolutions- " That it is the decided opinion of this meeting, that her Majesty's present Ministers have abandoned those Liberal principles which they professed before they Caine into power. That although they entered into office pledged to Reform, Economy, and Peace, their condtwt, as to Ireland and Britain, has ken illiberal, despotic, and extravagant ; as to Canada, vacillating, bloody, Sad cruel ; as to Russia and Poland, pusillanimous; as to America, warlike— which this meeting highly disapproves ; and that therefore this meeting neither has nor can have any confidence in her Majesty's present Ministers.

• " That this meeting of the inhabitants ot Edinburgh, reviewing the past conduct of her Majesty's present Ministers, find that they took office strictly pledged to alleviate the unhappy condition of Ireland, and generally pledged to the reform of corruption, home and colonial—peace economy, and retrench- ment. Instead of these, we find that Ireland is colonial—peace, distracted, distrust

abroad, and useless plates of every denomination multiplied. We therefore

pmg her ilds4oity to dismiss them without delay. "That it Is the siteidal couviction of this meeting, that equal rights cannot be enjoyed by all classes of her Majesty's subjects without Universal Suffrage. " That the foregoing resolutions be embodied in an address to be presented to the Queen; and that Lord Brougham be requested to present the same.

" That this meeting declare it to be improper to call a public meeting of the inhabitants for a political purpose, in which all are interested, at an hour which only accommodates a section of society, and not the whole; and there- fore this meeting -do now censure the Lord Provost and Whig party for their conduct."

[In reference to the proceedings at this meeting, the Edinburgh 06- server says- " Who would have imagined, seven years ago, that Sir James Gibson Craig, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, and other popular men, would have had their measures thwarted and been forced to dissolve a public meeting called to support their friends, the Ministers ? Yet such an event took place yesterday in the Waterloo Rooms. When we heard it proposed to hold a public meetmg, and learned the names of certain youths who were busying themselves in the matter, we did think that zeal was likely to outrun discretion ; and the result has proved that we were right. We must, however, in truth, state, that the ordinary leaders of the Whig party were not privy to the getting up of the re- quisition. The meeting was actually announced before the gentlemen, generally take the lead in such matters, were consulted. The whole was work of a few young men ; and the more experienced of the party may* said to have been dragged into the affair, that they might not be accusetT bf deserting their friends." This reads like an excuse for an unexpected defeat. The requisition was publicly announced several days before the meeting was held, and time was given for the old Whigs to have stopped the proceeding : but be this as it may, there is a clear admission, that even in Edinburgh it is not safe to call for a public expression of opinion on the conduct of the Whig Ministers.]