SCOTLAND.
• The Glasgow Argus contradicts, on "authority," a rumour that Mr. Lumsden, the late Provost, is to be a candidate at the next election. All parties appear to expect that, in the event of a vacancy, Mr. M`Gregor, of the Board of Trade, will stand.
The annual general meeting of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland was held at Edinburgh on Tuesday week. After the election of office-bearers, and the award of medals, with some other unimportant business, the meeting considered the report on the Drainage Act; in which some amendments were desired, particularly its extension to trenching, and the securing a right of outfall through adjoining and lower properties. The amount already applied for by Scotch proprietors is 312,0201. A memorial was adopted to the Home Secretary on the subject of agricultural statistics; the Society offering, if provided with means, to collect through its own machinery, and arrange the publication of the requisite statistical returns for Scotland.
At the Edinburgh High Court of Justiciary, last week, Ronald Gordon, late secretary and accountant to the Exchange Bank of Scotland was tried for em- bezzling 2,300/. belonging to the bank. He pleaded "Not guilty." It appeared from the evidence that Gordon had speculated in railway shares; he had thus become embarrassed; and to meet the claims on him, he had appropriated money which passed into his bands instead of paying it to the cashier of the bank. Mr. Heaves, counsel for the defence, blamed the bank for defective machinery in the way of caution. The prisoner had a considerable sum in railway property of his own, which the bank had subsequently seized upon; there was no doubt the pri- soner intended, with the remittances he expected from the sale of his railway stock, to replace the sums he had improperly availed himself of. The Jury found a verdict of " Guilty of theft on all the charges." The prisoner was sentenced to be transported for fifteen years.
A large portion of an extensive cotton-mill at Deanfield, near Meigle, has been destroyed by fire. The disaster will throw one hundred and fifty people out of employment.
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