SCOMAND.
Mr. Macaulay has published the following address to the electors at the city of Edinburgh. " Gentlemen—It is already known to you that her Majesty has been graci- ously pleased to appoint me her Secretary at War, and to add me to the num- ber of those confidential members of her Council who are, in a peculiar man- ner, accountable for the conduct of public affairs.
" I need scarcely say that of has, at this moment, few of its ordinary at- tractions ; and that, in the present circumstances of the country, and in the preseut state of parties, there is much to discourage those who are intrusted with the Administration. I should, in all probability, have hest consulted ray own comfort by leaving to others the arduous task of acting and proposing, and by confining myself to the far easier business of censuring and objecting; but such selfish caution would ill become one whom the _generous confidence of your great and enlightened city has placed in high public trust. Believing, OS I do, that her Majesty's present advisers have meant and endeavoured well— attributing, as I du, that weakness with which they are taunted, neither to in- feriority of judgment nor to inferiority of purpose, but to adverse circum- stances—to popular deluaions—to the arts of unscrupulous enemies; and to time slackness of faint-hearted, or unreasonable friends—I have thought it my duty to obey without hesitation the summons which called one to the post of difficulty, of responsibility, and of honour. At that post I ant confident it must be your wish that your representative should be found. " The change which has taken place ia my situation has produced no change in my opinions and feelings. I have not to retract or explain away a single word that you have heard me utter. I have accepted. office because I am of opinion that in office I can most effectually promote the success of those prin- ciples which recommended me to your favour. I shall quit office with far more pleasure than I accepted it as soon as I ant convinced that, by quitting it, I should scree the cause of temperate liberty and progressive Reform.
44 My seat in the house of Commons is now vacant; but the new writ can- not issue till after the meeting of Parliament. During the interval, you will, I trust, permit me, on every occasion in which I can serve you, to consider myself as still your representative. On the day of election I shall present myself before you without any aprehensions as to the event. You, I am confident, will not think that the situation which I now fill as one of the ser- vants of a constitutional throne, ddqualifies me for the service of a five people,
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