' SCOTLAND.
In our last paper we stated that Lord Congleton had not intimated his intention of declining the representation of Dundee in proper time. We have since seen a letter from his Lordship to his agent, Mr. G. Miller, in which he alludes to the complaint made against him. His Lordship states, that he knew nothing about being made a Peer till the 9th June. His letter declining to stand was dated the 11th. He was on the point of setting off for Dundee when the offer of the Peerage was made to him. There was thus on his part a delay of barely two days. The subsequent short delay on the part of his agent to intimate his re- signation to the constituency is already known, and was satisfactorily explained at a public meeting.—Dundee Advertiser.
The Queen has appointed Dr. William Thomson, of Edinburgh, to the Professorship of the Practice of Physic in the University of Glasgow, vacant by the resignation of Dr. Charles Badham ; and Dr. Lizars to the Professorship of Anatomy in Marischal College, Aberdeen, vacant by the resignation of Dr. Allen Thomson.
At the special meeting of the Commission of Assembly of the Scottish Kirk, op Wednesday week, the Commission directed all ministers to in- culcate the doctrines of the majority in Church polity from the pul- pit. " The Churchmen of Aberdeen," says the Edinburgh Observer, conceiving this to savour greatly of a Popish edict, have come forward to resist the lordly domination of the clergy ; and the following spirited resolution is now in course of signature among the members of the different churches in that city "— " The subscribers, members of congregations in the several parish-churches and other churches of the Establishment in Aberdeen, understand that a meet- ing of Commissioners appointed at the last General Assembly have recently recommended to clergymen of the Church to take what are described as all prudent means of calling the attention of their flocks to certain doctrines, said to be held by the Church. These assumed doctrines are the recently-intro- duced Veto or Nonintrusion law, and the consequent claim of independence or irresponsibility. And the subscriber', being convinced that if the clergyman's office, and particularly the pulpit, shall be employed, even occasionally and in. the slightest degree, on matters so questionable, and so unconnected with the real principles of Christianity, it will lie a dereliction of duty, a certain source of strife, a public scandal in the Church, and a corruption and abuse of worship and discipline, and of religion itself; they deprecate, and therefore resolve by all proper and legitimate means in their power to prevent, so disorderly and unholy a use of the public station and privileges which the ministers of reli- gion enjoy."
A meeting of the most respectable inhabitants of the county of Ren- frew was held on Thursday week, in the Town-hall, Paisley, to con- sider the best means of affording relief to the unemployed operatives of the district. Sir William Napier was in the chair. Bailie Murray of Paisley stated the statistics of the existing destitution- " The number of heads of families out of employment, and relying (or sup.. port upon the Relief Committee, amounted to 65S, their dependents to 1,934; making in all 2,592 persons who at present had no other means of subsistence than that derived from this source. The Committee had expended 830/.; the subscriptions received, including voluntary assessment, amounted to 6301.; leaving the Committee about 2001. in debt. The sum received from the volun- tary assessment was 250/. in the town, and 150/. in the Abbey parish ; and the remaining 2601. bad been collected by subscription, partly in the town and partly in the county." The Chairman said that there was a prospect of obtaining employ- ment for some of the weavers : Mr. Spiers of Burnbrae was going to employ some forty or fifty, and in the course of a few weeks more might be taken up in the same way. Mr. John Maxwell of Pollok said that the gentlemen of the county were called upon to come forward. in consequence of the distress which oppressed the manufacturers. He proposed that a subscription should be collected throughout the county generally, and he put down his name for 201. Colonel Hervey seconded the resolution ; which was adopted. Letters were received from several. gentlemen who could not attend, offering subscriptions of various sums from 101. to 100/. A letter was read from Mr. Hastie, the Member for Paisley, promising to subscribe 500/. toward a fund for providing work for the unemployed operatives. And another letter was read from the Earl of Glasgow, offering assistance, and asking what was the best means of affording relief? A Committee was appointed to cooperate on behalf of the county gentlemen with the Paisley Relief Committee.
The seventh half-yearly meeting of the Glasgow and Ayrshire Railway Company was held at Glasgow on Monday. Since the open- ing of the railway in August last, there have been carried on the Joint Line and between Paisley and Ayr upwards of 900,000 passengers, without a single accident. A dividend of 12s. per share was recom- mended by the Directors.
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