SCOTLAND.
Captain Wemyss will have the Lieuteuancy of Fife, vacant by the q. death of Robert Ferguson, Es of Raithe—Morning Chronicle.
A Kirkcaldy correspondent of the lAlii Ui.rahl gives the following account of the uncertainty that exists respecting time representation of that district of level's- " There was not, up to Tuetalay evening, the, smallest movement going on here, regarding the election of a Member for the Burghs in room of the late Lord-Lieutenant. There seems a general apathy hanging over the electors. There is no doubt a talk or Mr. Drink water Bethune and Colonel Robert Ferguson rts candidates, but the a no official almotturement has been made by either. The Colonel lies dangerously il! ; and the other has been here person • ally, but his movements have 1,, en in private. The Burghs arc now open, and never has a better cicutee occurred for a thottlugh Liberal candidate to step forward and take pl)Sit's.1,11L lice a all (Apt:Hie. What the majority of the constituents wish, is a o individual untrammelled either by Ministerial influence on the one hand or bfgoted sup,rstitiatt oa the other. He must even go beyond the Ministry on to mv is tsar, st, p•f.tti-uhtelv if their future measures are to be similar to same or if., • that are past. While the late Member lived, mimic: dared approach the sattred place, as he was emhosomed in the affections of the community ; but now the case is entirely changed. We it ish that Sonic de- serving and honest individual would step Inman!, and that instantly. There is no tittle to be lost."
The public thanksgiving in Edinburgh, appointed by the Pres- bytery to be held on Tuesday last for the late abundant harvest,
was somewhat marred by a misunderstanding between the Presbytery and the Dissenters. Many Dissenting bodies had taken umbrage at some remarks made at the meeting of Presbytery as to their not holding any direct communication with Dissenters regarding the thanks. giving-day. It was ultimately agreed at a general meeting of the Dis- senting bodies, not to hold Tuesday as a day of thanksgiving. The Edinburgh Mckly Chronicle says that the day was, notwithstanding, " pretty well observed ; and as many of the working classes attended to their usual employments, there was less of idleness and dissipation than is usually seen on our streets on such an occasion."
A meeting of the inhabitants of Edinburgh opposed to the continuance of Church patronage was held On Wednesday week ; the Lord Provost in the chair. The first resolution proposed and carried was-
" That patronage is unwarranted by the Word of God, and opposed to the doctrine and practice of the Apostolic and primitive Church ; that it is a cor- ruption introduced into the Church amidst the darkness of the middle age, and was indefensible on any principles suggested by Script ire, history, or reason."
Mr. Dick opposed the objects of the meeting, but it was with diffi- culty he could obtain a hearing. Other resolutions, in the same spirit as the first, were passed, and a petition to Parliament was agreed to.
A special meeting of the Presbytery of Glasgow was held on Wed- nesday, for the purpose of discussing the subject of lay patronage. The Court met early in the forenoon, and continued its sittings till half-past twelve o'clock on Thursday. Mr. Burns, of Kilsyth, who moved an overture against lay patronage as an infringement on The rights of the Christian people, proposed the repeal of the Patronage Act of Queen Anne, and the establishment in its stead of the right of the members of the Church to appoint their own millisters. He also proposed a petition to the Legislature in behalf of the objects contemplated in the overture. Mr. Henderson, of Carmunnock, moved an amendment, to the effect that, as the principle of Non-Intrusion was recognized by the Church, and by various acts of Assembly, so that no minister could be forced upon an unwilling people, it was therefore inexpedient to agree to the overture, or to petition Parliament in the terms proposed. A second amendment was moved by Mr. Lee of Campsie, which was simply that it was inexpedient to adopt the overture or the petition. After a most unwieldy debate, a division took place on the two amendments ; when there voted for Mr. Henderson's amendment, 4; for Mr. Lee's, 12. The amendment of Mr. Lee was then voted upon, along with the original motion of Mr. Burns ; and the latter was carried, by a majority of 50 to 12.
At a recent dinner given by Sir William Maxwell to his tenants, he delivered the following exposition of his views of the obligation of tenants to make their political opinions, or at least their votes, square with their landlord's wishes-
" If they could not go Meng with him in politics, he would, while their leases lasted, live in friendship with them, but he would not let a farm upon winch there was a vote to any person who could not or would not go along with him, it was reported that he was chang,-ed on this subject ; but this was not the case ; and he would just give them an example of the force and truth of his opinions. There were a good many present who were owners of vessels belonging to Portwilliam, and he would suppose that one who held the largest share of a vessel was by some means to be excluded from the management. But would this be right? Surely nut. And on the stone principle he would say, was he to have no voice in the votes of the tenants of his estate, where he certainly had the hugest share and interest ? Unquestionably the tenants otiobt to consult him, for he supposed his views and opinions to be for the good of the country."
[In other words, "Surely the laird should ken best." 'We have seen nothing so rich and yet so simple for a long time.] •
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