SCOTLAND.
The dispute respecting the rebuilding of Trinity College Church, Edin- burgh, has advanced another stage. The old church was swept away by the North British railway. It was a model of architectural beauty, and in the Railway Act provision was made for ita rerection, either by the Railway Company or by the Town Council out of a sum to ho paid to them by the company. The Town Council wanted to shuffle out of the bargain and erect a cheap church net on the model of the old church, and at a cost of less than half the money paid down as the value of the old church. Lord Ardmillan has now issued an interlocutor finding that the Town Council of Edinburgh are bound to apply the sum of 17,6711. re- ceived by them from the North British Railway Company, in the build. ing of a new church of the same style and model as the old church re- moved by them. This decision will be satisfactory to those who have always insisted on the obligations of the Town Council.
The Scottish Trade Protection Society has taken up an interesting- question—that of genuine versus purely accommodation bills. On Mon- day they carried their case before Mr. Baillie, the Lord Advocate, and suggested an Act of Parliament for the purpose of distinguishing genuine business bills, representing value received, from accommodation bills, drawn for the sole purpose of raising money. In reply to the deputa- tion, Mr. Baillie said that at one period the Scotch Courts doubted the legality of accommodation bills altogether.; but that question had long been settled; and so numerous and extensive were the transactions car- ried on in this country by means of these bills in whole or in part, that he could scarcely say, looking forward without experience, what effect the alterations proposed would have on the general trade of the country.. He would, however, give the subject his best consideration, and he had no hesitation in saying that the recent commercial disasters must call the attention of the Government and of the country to the subject, and lead them to inquire whether any legislative measure could be got which would have the effect of placing the commerce of the country on a safer and more satisfactory footing. (This will give an opportunity for inves- tigating the expediency of applying the principles of Free-trade far more extensively than they are at present to all credit transactions.] The annual meeting of the Art-Union of Glasgow for the distribution of prizes, took place on Wednesday, the Lord-Provost in the chair. It appeared from the financial statement that the number of subscribers was 12,487; the sum expended was 9190/. 16e. 11d., leaving a balance of 3920/. 108. ld. The report was adopted, and the drawing took place in the usual way.
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