SCOTLAND.
The rapid and progressive increase of poor-rates in Scotland is causing alarm. The expenditure for the year 1844-5 was 258,8141.; the year 1845-6, 306,0441.; and the year 1846-7, 435,3671. The report for 1847-8 Will be laid before Parliament next month, and iii it it is reckoned that the expenditure will be 550,0001. In 1847 the assessment was at the rate of 41. 13s. 5d. per cent on the annual value of the real property of the country, or nearly :Id. per head of the population, according to the last census. In 1847 the registered poor amounted to 85,971; casual poor, to 60,399; total, 146,370, or nearly 1 in 18 of the population, provided there be no repetitions in the cases set down as casual poor.
At a recent meeting of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, the chairman stated that he had been asked to cooperate with the Finance Re- form Association, and wished to know if he should do so officially. The members present expressed themselves favourable to the object, but no formal decision was arrived at.
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