SCOTLAND.
The third grand soiree of the Glasgow Athenaeum was held on Thurs- day week, in the City.hall ; the Earl of Eglinton in the chair. Among those who took a prominent part in the evening's proceedings were the chairman, Sir Archibald Alison, Sir M. Shaw Stewart, 'Mr. Alexander nestle M.P., Professors Swinton, Blackie, and Nicoll, Mr. Walter Bu- chanan, and the Lord Advocate. The chief tweech, as usual on these oc- casions, was that of the chairman. Lord Eglinton, commending all efforts to educate the people, rejoiced that the Glasgow Athenaeum had been suc- cessful, and that its members were increasing in number ; but he could not help regretting that ,young men engaged in mercantile,and mechani- cal pursuits had not availed themselves of the benefit of the institution to the extent that might have been desired. You cannot over-educate the people; the danger lies in an imperfect education, or the want of it alto- gether. Wherever institutions like the Athenmum are established, there H a man can find wholesome amusement and sound instruction. e ap- pealed to the merchants of Glasgow, many of whom had raised themselves from obscurity, to remember the thousands of their fellow citizens who are now in a situation -similar to what was once their own, and begged them to leave no means untried which are calculated to have the effect of providing good and adequate instruction for their poorer fellow citizens.
In the course of his address Lord Eglinton said that, although politics were excluded, he should regret if any member did not take an interest in the war—should fail to glory in his country's complete success.
" Such a theme as that should be encouraged ; and, although I well know that I am now in the middle of one of the great commercial cities of Europe, and war is always-hateful and peculiarly oppressive, I know that there is not one here who hacnot resolved that so far as in him lies this war shall be carried on firmly and resolutely to a glorious conclusion. (Great applause.) I know that thisis a topic forergalo the peaceful object for which this meet- ing has been convened ; but I trust that I may be pardoned for alluding to it, unable as I was to attend a recent great demonstration which took place in this city, and for assuring you, on my own part, that, anxious as I am, in common with every humane man, that the sanguinary struggle in which the three greatest nations in the world are engaged should be brought to a speedy termination, I am equally anxious that no peace shall be concluded which will not have the effect of securing the ,permanent tranquillity of Europe."
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