SCOTLAND.
The Ross-shire Advertiser twits the Conservatives with the legislative bungling that they made a reproach to the Whigs; the Income-tax Act furnishing an instance.
" The Assessors are empowered to obtain the assistance of the schoolmasters in their different parishes in laying on the assessment ; and yet there is no pro- vision for enforcing this, or for giving remuneration to the schoolmasters for the employment of their time. We bare heard that in this county several parochial schoolmasters have spent days in this thankless employment, doubt- less expecting doe recompense therefor. We wish it, however, to be under- stood, that for such employment the act authorizes no compensation, and that those who may spend their time in assisting the Assessor under the act will hardly realize the good old rale of the labourer being worthy of his hire.
At the Edinburgh High Court of Justiciary, on Saturday, Alexander Mackenzie, cattle-dealer and farmer, was indicted for shooting at James Duff, grazier, with intent to kill him, in order to avoid payment of 1,0001. for cattle ; the assault having been committed in Lord Camperdown's pleasure-grounds near Dundee, whither Mackenzie had decoyed Duff. The prisoner, who appeared to be in a state of the greatest mental agony, pleaded " Guilty." The Reverend James Watt, of Glenisla, gave Mackenzie an excellent character for reputed respectability, ho- nesty, and kindness; and Sir James Ramsay of Banff, his landlord, who bad known him for twenty years, declared that he had bad the highest opinion of him. He was sentenced to transportation for life. The Caledonian Mercury says—" We understand that on Saturday forenoon, and after the wretched convict had been removed to the Calton Gaol, Mr. Duff, notwithstanding the remonstrances of several friends, visited him in his cell, and personally forgave him the dreadful injury received at his hands," The embankment of Glanderston Dam, near Glasgow, gave way on Friday night, and the contents of the reservoir rushed forth with de- structive violence. At Hardie, Stark, and Company's print-works, in Springfield, three houses were swept away, a counting-house, and the gables of two other houses: the only person killed here was a boy, but several others had a narrow escape. The machinery, some goods, and ingredients for printing, were also carried away. About a quarter of a mile beyond, at the print-works of Messrs. Hay and Son, in South Athur- lie, two houses, a shed, and a byre, were swept away ; and eight persons in the houses were killed.
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