SCOTLAND.
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland commenced its annual session, at Edinburgh, on Thursday last week. In the forenoon, the Marquis of Bute, the Lord High Commissioner, held a levee in the Throne- room of the Palace of Holyrood; and afterwards attended divine service at the High Church. He then proceeded to the Assembly Hall, Castlehill ; where proceedings were commenced. The Reverend Dr. Paull of Tully- nessle was appointed Moderator, in the room of Dr. Hill, whose year of service had expired. The Lord High Commissioner announced her Majesty's subscription of 2,0001. for the promotion of religious knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This was followed by an ex- pression of. thanks on the part of the Assembly. The proceedings gene- rally do not possess any feature of interest.
The Assembly of the Free Church met on the same day, in the large Hall at Canonmills. Dr. Robert J. Brown, Professor of Greek in the University of Aberdeen, was appointed Moderator in the room of the Reverend Dr. M`Farlan. The financial reports were satisfactory.
A diabolical attempt to assassinate has just been discovered at Glasgow. A small oblong box, duly addressed, was forwarded from Paisley, and delivered as directed. On removing the wrapper which surrounded it, a card was found direct- ing how the box was to be opened so as not to injure the "valuable contents." The directions were followed; but, on pulling one of the nails, something gave way, which induced the person to wrench off the lid; when, to his dismay, the box was found to contain about one pound and a half of gunpowder, a number of small stones, with a lock and part of the stock of a pistol. A wire attached the trigger to one of the nails, which, upon being drawn, was no doubt expected to ignite the contents and spread death around. An investigation into this extraor- dinary affair has been instituted by the authorities. Houses have let, this term, with unprecedented quickness, and we may add, to an unprecedented extent. We scarcely notice a house to let throughout the city. The cause of this is not only to be attributed to the addition made to the inhabit- ants by men employed on the public works and their families, but also to the fact that for railway and other purposes a considerable number of homes have been pulled down. Landlords hare also obtained an enhancement of the rent of their houses, in some cases to a very considerable extent—Edinburgh Post.
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