15 FEBRUARY 1840, Page 9

SCOTLAND.

Sir Andrew Leith Hay and Mr. Grant continue the canvass of the Elgin Burghs. The Inverness Courier says—

There have been some violent preeeedings in the Strathbogie Pres- bytery, which assembled on the 2a1 ultimo. We have not met with the detailed account of them, but the following statement in the Dundee 'Idealiser of the 7th instant probably supplies the principal facts- " The suspended ministers appeared in full come on Wednesday week ; but their status ' having been denied by the minority, both parties set tip' for themselves; the one on the strengtn of the Statute Book, and the other on the strength of the General Assembly. The Presbytery ('leek stuck by the majority and the law, and proceeded to recognize the eligibility of the sus- pended ministers to take part in the proceedings. Ile proceeded to engross their names, in opposition to the commands of the Moderator. Suspension followed, and another clerk was appointed. The rival clerks proceeded to obey the injunctions of' their respective employers; and, in the reading of minutes and so forth, each endeavoured to drown the voice of the other ; and this, joined to the discordant notes of the contending clergymen, produced what the report calls Dutch Court.' One of ths.,:aTended 31inisters moved that the presbytery proceed with Mr. Edwards's trials. The Moderator refused to put any such motion, as he denied the status of the mover. Against this the seen :%finisters protested, end moved that the Moderator be deposed. This was carried of course, and duly minuted by their Clerk. One of the suspended Ministers was appointed Moderator, bat the interruption %thick existed was such as to prevent the trials of Mr. Edwards being proceeded with. In the mean time an Aberdeen advocate craved to be heard in support of certain objections by the parishioners of Marine:It ; but the majority would not allow him to speak, as he was not a constitutional member of the court. The reasons of dissect, however, were monied. To allow the trials to be proceeded with, the suspended 'Ministers, their Moderator, and their Clerk, proceeded to another apartment. Both Presbyteries then pro• xeeded to discharge their functions. The Presbytery of seven, before proceeding with the trials, distinctly stated that they trete acting In accordance with the terms of the compact between Church and State, but that they never intended to ordain or induct Mr. Edwards till the next meeting of the General Assembly. Tile trials were then entered upon, and, at the close, the members expressed themselves highly satisfied with Mr. Ed- wards's attainments. The Presbytery of caur proceeded to take into con- sideration au address which had been prepared, enjoining the parishioners not to receive baptism or any other form of Church ordinance from time suspended ministers on pain of Church censure, and conveying, a warning that all such 'ordinanceS arc null and void. One of the members having been sent to the adjoining room to see what was going on, reported that he had met with an uncivil reception, and that Mr. Palu m•,.!'s trials were proceeding. A warrant was then granted, citing Mr. Edwards to appear before the Commission of Assembly to answer the charge of " contumacy." It was also resolved that the whole proceedings should he reported to the Connnission. one friends of both parties are • zealous in the cause ; and as Sir Andrew and Mr. Grant have agreed that one shall retire befbre the poll commences, in order to preserve the Liberal ranks full and entire, the struggle at present is to „man, a majority of written pledges. It is said that Sir Andrew came too late into the field, after Mr. Grant of Ca rnousie had preoccupied part of the ground; and on this point resolutions and counter-resolutions, bills and state- ments, are flying thick as arrows at Chevy Chace among the electors of Band; 'Peterhead, &c. - At Elgin it seems universally sulmitted Sir A. Leith Huy has secured a majority."