Marshal Soul-for the fortification of Paris. It is felt that the-object of this measure is not to defend the city against foreign enemies, but to enable the Government to put down the citizens with greater ease, in case of any discontent again breaking out. We hope the people of Paris will be successful in their resistance, as we have no doubt, if Louis, Philippe gets the city fortified, he will feel himself safe in resorting to more despotic measures than he has yet attempted. There have been some rather serious conflicts among the soldiery in Paris. In one of these rencontres, 19 men were killed, and 28 wounded. Savary, Duke of Rovigo, died on the 1st June, of cancer in the throat. GERMANY. BELGIUM. In consequence of the Editors and Proprietors of certain journals advocating Orange principles, having been assaulted by the partisans of the existing Government, disturbances have occurred at Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp, but they were put down without difficulty. By the new election the Ministry will gain about 30 votes. King Leopold opened the new Session of the Chambers, with a speech from the throne on the 7th June. He stated that in consequence of the Treaty with Holland, a partial disarming would take place, and that the revenue was improving. nexion with the glorious empire of their stres, with a deter. mination to support that connexion, as many of them have already supported it, with their fortunes or their blood, ther affections are already more than half-alienated, from the Government of that country; and in the apprehension that the same insulting and degrading course of policy towards them is likely to continue, they already begin to cast about,' in their mind's eye, for some new state of poli. lival existence, which shall effectually put the colony br yond the reach of injury and insult from any and every ignoramus whom the political lottery of the day may chance to elevate to the Chair of the Colonial Office" val The writer of this article is evidently a warm partisan on the Anti-British side of the question; but we suspect that there is some reason in the complaint of the frequent change of their Governors in this country w norhyo The despotic Governments are kept in continual alarm by the spread of liberal opinions in Germany. An affray took place at the festival of Hambach, in Rhenish Bavaria. Upwards of 100 persons were killed by the military. One of the cavalry regiments refused to fire. This occurrence has given much uneasiness at Vienna, and great fears are AWFUL DISASTERS AT SEA.-The Lima, Captain, Mars entertained of the spread of the revolutionary spirit, as it dou, sailed from Newfoundland 11th May. On the mornis called, by the despots. The Prussian students, at the col-ing of the 18th of May, in lat. 46. 20., lon, 45. 50. wikVA, lege of Eslangen, Wurtzburg, and Heidelberg, have been about 400 miles from Newfoundland, being completely sur recalled: in future, the Royal permission is to be obtained rounded with ice, their attention was aroused by before sending a student to a foreign University. gun fired, shortly after which they destried a heat at sai distance. The Captain instantly hove to, tiff the latter came alongside, when he took the individuals in Her on board. They reported themselves to be the second mate and twelve of the crew of the Harvest Hoine, Captain Hall, of Newcastle, from London, for Miramichi, They in win, ed Captain Mardon, that on the 9th of May, the Harvest | Home was struck by a piece of ice, which stove in her bows: All hands were immediately put to the pumps, by which/ means they succeeded in keeping the vessel afloat for two days, at the expiration of which time the second mate and twelve of the crew quitted her in the long boat, the Captain and first mate having come to the determination of remainA preliminary treaty of peace has been concluded between ing on board. After they had been out one night, being Great Britain and France, on the one hand, and the King of loath to leave the latter in such a perilous situation, they Holland on the other, by which the English and French returned, and requested the Captain and mate to leave her, embargoes on Dutch vessels have been taken off, and the in- but they persisted in their determination, saying, they terruption to the navigation of the Scheldt has been removwould stick to her while a timber remained affoau" "They ed. The intercourse between the respective parties and had, however, got the jolly-boat ready in case the danger Holland has thus been placed on the same footing as pre-off, they became bewildered amongst the masses of ice, by should become imminent. The crew having again pushed vious to the French expedition against Antwerp. Dutch garrison of Antwerp who are prisoners in France, are also to be sent home; and the armistice between Holland and Belgium will be continued until the definitive settlement of a permanent separation. HOLLAND. PORTUGAL. The There have not yet been received any authentic account of the state of matters in Turkey. It has been repeatedly reported that a treaty of peace had been signed between the Porte and Ibrahim, and as often contradicted. There seems to be no doubt, however, that Constantinople is occupied by a large Russian force, which is rapidly increasing in numbers by the arrival of fresh troops from Odessa. Great Britain and France have remonstrated in strong terms against the continued occupation of Constantinople by the Russiaus, 24 v bazlozi CANADA. ^ The state of affairs in Canada is by no m means satisfactory. There appears to be a strong party desirous of severing their connexion with the mother country. A paper called the Upper Canada Courant, received by the last arrivals, speaks this language plainly enough¿2-ci 130 "The minds of all the well-affected people in the country (and they, to the certain ultimate discomfiture of the united factions of Mackenzie, Goderich, and the Yankee Methodists, are a vast majority) begin to be unhinged.). Instead of dwelling with delight and confidence upon their cons | course to steer. which they were surrounded, and totally uncertain what On the next day, they again fell in with their own vessel, which they had mistaken for another sail. This time they found that the Captain and mats had left her. Two of the crew now went on board, and while they were busy endeavouring to get more water and provisions, they were surprised at the sight of a boat containing about thirty individuals approaching in an opposite direction; they immediately boarded the vessel, having, as subsequently appeared, dong so in the hope of succour. They proved to be the Captain and tretv, and part of the passengers, (including two femalés,) of the Lady of the Lake, of Aberdeen, bound from Belfast for Quebec, with upwards of two hundred passen. gers on board. Those who had boarded the wreck of the Harvest Home, when they saw the state she was in, with her hold full of water, made a simultaneous rush to return to the boat, which was at that moment pushed off and sevcral of them were precipitated into the water. One of them," however, was fortunate enough to make good his leap into the boat, which contained the crew of the Harvest Home, and he has now arrived in Liverpool, in the Lima. He states that the Lady of the Lake struck upon the ice and immediately filled, when the Captain and crew took to the boat, leaving the sinking vessel crowded with the remainden of the despairing and shrieking passengers to the number of one hundred and sixty or one hundred and seventy. The crew of the Harvest Home state that after they left their vessel the last time, they saw nothing more of the other boat. Several of the individuals who had fallen into the sea when the latter was pushed off, were drowning, but it was impossible for them to render them any assistance.——— Liverpeo Advertiser.vjemna jenezë SPIRIP OF THE PUBLIC PRESS. JRISH CHURCH REFORM BILL. THE vote of the House of Commons on Friday evening, whereby the 147 clause of the Irish (Church) Temporalities bill was expunged, we consider a lamentable circumstance. It must be recollected, and indeed was recalled to mind by more than one Member in the course of that discussion, that Ministers had, on first introducing the Coercion bill, declared their determination to resign, if they could not carry the Church Reform bills, as well as the bill of coercion. This was a pledge, and a pledge the more sacred because it held out to adverse parties a condition which, in reliance on the good faith of Government, those adverse parties have fulfilled. The Coercion bill, we repeat, was supported by many of those who would otherwise have opposed it, in full confidence that the bills of conciliation relating to church affairs would have been carried also, and neither sold nor compromised. For some time previous to Friday's vote, rumours had been in circulation, and the matter of them was announced in this journal, that the Tories in the House of Lords, impatient at their exclusion from office, had decided on the immediate overthrow of Ministers, which was to be effected by that of the Irish Church bill. A hostile vote of the Peers was therefore ordained, and a consequent resignation of Lord Grey's Ministry was reckoned on. given way on this occasion as a peace-offering to It In grief, not in anger, and certainly not in enmity, we repeat that the surrender of Friday night was a loss of character, that is, of substantial power. The Tories conciliated by it! Why, they laugh at The question, therefore, for his Majesty's Govern- it publicly. They are stimulated by it to the imment was, whether they should maintain their position of fresh burdens and humiliations upon Church Reform bill intact in the House of Com- their weakened foes. Besides, the sacrifices of the mons, where they were powerful leaving upon the Government cannot end here; they are but beginTory Peers the responsibility of rejecting it else- ning, and thankless as well as disreputable will be where, and so disgusting the country, or whether each step in the descent. Between the Conservathey should submit to be beaten without fighting tives and the English nation, where can Ministers on that field where they had the victory already in make a stand, after the demonstration of a spirit so their own hands, and, under the name of a "com- irresolute? Without gaining over a single friend promise for the sake of peace," yield to their ene- from the Tories, the whole body of sound and inmies what they would take care to represent as a dependent Reformers are affronted at this desertion signal triumph. The latter branch of the alterna- of the common cause. The principle thus abantive was that which the Ministers, we think unfor-doned was worth all the rest of the measure. tunately, believed themselves justified in accepting. They made what they deemed was a compromise, but what the Conservatives loudly boast of as a complete surrender of the whole point in dispute, viz. the "inalienable" nature of Church property. Apart from all special pleading on the subject, Mr. Stanley, by giving up his clause, has given up, in fact, the assertion of the original and fundamental principle of all Church reform-namely, the power of dealing according to the supreme will of Parliament with any and every portion of that property which the State had itself originally appropriated to the temporal uses of its religious establishment. The recognition of this principle was essential to the legitimacy of any measure of temporal Church reform. It is that without which not even a commutation of tithes, or a charge for poor rates, oral property tax on the tithe-owner, can be rendered valid. If there was not an Irish Protestant layman from north to south of the island tomorrow, the temporalities of the superfluous Church could not be touched by Parliament, without a declaration of the one great datum that " Church property is disposable by the State." And this is the ground which Ministers have abandoned, and, upon their own showing, what does their inducement amount to ? Mr Stanley avows, however, that Ministers have was one, the steady adherence to which would have inspired the people almost universally with confidence in the firmness and wisdom of the King's Ministers, and would have filled the Tories with corresponding consternation. Ministers, with King and people at their back, might smile with scorn at an isolated and odious faction; but alienate the people from them, and let his Majesty once distrust their manhood, and what have the Tories to fear? Times. THE DESPOTISM OF THE LORDS. "THE cry is still, they come !"-The Lords are, it is said, resolved to try their strength, and, if it be true that they are encouraged by assurances that there will be no creation, they have the comfort and consolation of knowing that if they fall in the struggle, they will not fall alone, and more than one hereditary institution must be involved in the ruin. With this threatening prospect the magnanimous hostility of the Ministerialists takes its usual direction-of a set at the Queen and the Bishops. All the blame is flung upon the Bishops in the House, and a petticoat in the Court. This is a cowardly. choice of objects of attack. I * The only hold upon the House is the power of creation in the Crown; but this can hardly be said to produce a responsibility, as the power abused is still continued to the individual, and the worthy surprising that he stopped there; for bis advisers as to the amount of the compensation have been the West India proprietors! The very young Colonial Secretary explains: and unworthy are equally affected by the discredit brought on the House collectively by the royal appointment of a majority. The more extensive the factious corruption and misconduct of the House, He thought it best to deal freely and frankly with the the more injurious to the institution is a creation; and the Lords have thus the encouragement, of House, and to state to them and to the public, that which knowing that the wider their confederacy against he confessed had weighed with his mind, and that which good government, the more unmanageable and dif- had weighed with the Government, in proposing the grant ficult the coercion. There is no other institution of a larger sum than that of fifteen millions; and that ground was, that every one connected with West India prothe errors and vices of which can only be conquer-perty, without any exception whatever, stated that the sam ed through a damage to the institution itself. In of fifteen millions would be inadequate to the loss they must other instances, the present members are liable to suffer. r removal; in this they remain fixed, after signalizing their unfitness for the authority. The irresponsible power is of course indefeisible. The King is said to be obstinately opposed to a creation; were the personage of less dignity we might compare his conduct to that of the toper, who, when his friend fell in the gutter, hiccuped out, "My dear fellow, I can't help you up, but I'll do what I can; I'll lie down by you in the mire." Supposing this is his Majesty's resolution, as it must have been long known to Lord Grey, and equally well known to hin that measures of efficient reform were impracticable without a creation, for what object has he been carrying on the Government? Not surely out of complaisance to the King, who can have small claims to his Lordship's zeal, nor with any expectation of rendering substantial service to the people. The sooner this issue between the peers and the nation is determined the better, and it is not improbable (if the indiscretions of which we hear be true) that the general question of hereditary authority may be involved in it. The Chronicle says, We tell the public, that a crisis is ag in at hand, and that they must be prepared to buckle on their armour for the fight. If our warning voice have no effect, then, as was said in the olden time, "The Lord's will be done!" We suppose the Lord's will will be done, even if the Chronicle's warning voice have effect; for we are not prepared to pay our contemporary so bad a compliment as he offers himself when he supposes that in failure of his warning voice, the Lord's will will have effect. As for the buckling on of armour, if the necessity arrives, the people will see the prudence of wearing it to such purpose that they shall not have occasion to trouble themselves speedily with it again. They will not buckle on armour to make a Whig House of Peers in place of a Tory House of Peers-to adjust the differences between the tweedledum and tweedledee; but apply themselves to a settlement of the Government, cleared of all unreasonable privileges, vicious principles, and barbarous remnants of feudalism, The national quarrel with the House of Peers will be with the institution, and not with the composition of the assembly. The evils of a hereditary and irresponsible Legislature are not to be cured by a Minister's packing. A despotism tempered with puppets were too gross a farce for legislation.-Examiner. T THE WEST INDIA BUBBLE. MAJOR BEAUCLERK compliments Ministers on the manly manner in which they have grappled with the difficulties of the West India question. It seems to us that they have grappled very vigorously with the public purse, and with nothing else. It was generally thought that enough was not had for the fifteen millions at first proposed; but upon the grounds on which Mr. Stanley has advanced to the grant of twenty millions, it is only t No doubt they said so. No doubt they find even the twenty millions inadequate. Under this guidance, instructed in the equity of the compensation by the party to be compensated, it is only amazing that Mr. Stanley stops at the twenty millions.—Ibid. EFFECTS OF A REVOLUTION IN BRITAIN. MANY talk of a Revolution in this country as inevitable, now that the expectations formed of the Reformed Parliament have been so much disappointed, and a collison between the Lords and Commons seems almost certain. It seems to be thought that from a Revolution would spring a new system of Government, under which taxes would be light, trade and commerce flourishing, profits high, and the people contented and happy. These talkers overlook the circumstances that, in such a Revolution as would likely take place in this country, great misery would in all probability be the first consequence, and that the present generation could hardly feel the benefits of the change. A Revolution such as that in France, in 1830, by which one branch of a family is placed on the throne instead of another, would produce little change in the state of the country, and is not the sort of Revolution which is contemplated by those who consider such an event not improbable. It is a Revolution which would remove the reigning family from the throne, substitute for monarchy another kind of Government, and, by annihilating the national debt, permit a great reduction in our taxation. Now let us consider what would be the The fundholders are consequences of such an event. Then the not, as is often supposed, generally men of great wealth; A convention has just been signed between the Duke of Richmond, Postmaster-General in England, and M. Comte, Director of the French Post-Office, establishing a daily communication between the two countries, instead of only four times a-week. LIBEL.-On Monday, the editor and proprietor of the Spectator newspaper, were tried, in the Court of King's Bench, London, for an alleged libel on the Duke of Beaufort. The article charged as libellous, was published in April 1831, and intimated that the family of the Duke looked towards the public money for their support. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Cobbett has recovered damages, L.100, from the Times newspaper proprietory for a libel copied from the Leeds Mercury stock, therefore, would lose the whole capital they had invested. Paper money being rendered worthless, we would be deprived of a circulating medium; for the small quantity of gold and silver, now in circulation, would speedily be hoarded, and disappear, and we would thus be reduced to barter. All the manufacturers throughout the kingdom would stop their works, as they would not have the means to pay their workmen, and millions of operatives would be turned out to the streets to starve, or live by plunder and rapine. The owners of property would naturally unite for its defence, and, hence, in every street. and in every village, scenes of the most horrible violence and carnage would ensue, and the kingdom would be deluged in blood. There being no longer any pay for the army, 50,000 or 60,000 men, with arms in their hands, would be let loose, at free quarters on society, to live by plunder as they best could. Scotland would probably suffer more than any other part of the united kingdom by a revolution. Here everything rests on credit. Ready money, or a metallic circulation is almost entirely un The Oxford Commemoration this year was numerousknown. It is all credit, nothing but paper, cash ac-ly attended. A correspondent of the Morning Chronicle counts, bills, paper money. Touch but the funds, and says, that while the healths of the Queen, the Duchess the whole fabric comes to the ground, and anarchy and of Kent, and Sir Robert Peel, were rapturously received, confusion take the place of order and peace. Such ap- the name of the Duke of Wellington excited more hisses pears to us to be the consequences of a revolution, or of than cheers, and that of Lord Brougham more cheers by applying a sponge to the national debt. It would cause far than hisses. not only a national bankruptcy, but the bankruptcy of almost every individual. It would put an end to business of all kinds, reduce millions to starvation, cause a complete change of property, and give a shock to the country which it would not recover in a century.-Edinburgh Chronicle. [Now what is the best, and indeed, the only preventive of such a convulsion with its attendant horrors? It is the lightening of the national burdens by rigid economy and sweeping retrenchment, and the imposition of an efficient property tax.] ENGLAND. The Coroner's Inquest that sat, on the body of Cully, the policeman, has been entirely quashed by the King's Bench, on the ground that on the face of the inquisition there was nothing to justify the verdict. HOUSE AND WINDOW DUTIES. Numerous meetings have been held during the month in the metropolis, and also in some of the larger towns, to vote resolutions for the repeal of the House and Window Duties. Whatever may be the embarrassments of Government, or whoever may be in power, the early repeal or modification of these taxes is inevitable. THE FUNDS. The desponding tone of the leading ministerial journals, and the anticipation of a defeat of the Ministry, have caused a depression in the stock market. On the 29th of June, consols for the account were 893; India stock, 47; and Bank stock, 204. CHURCH RATES.-Throughout (England the resistance goods have, in some places, been attempted, but no purto Church rates is rapidly increasing. Sales of distrained chasers could be found. THE KING. The anecdotes that follow have been communicated by a correspondent of the Standard :~" When the King dined with the Duke of Wellington on Tuesday, he was received by the Duke, at entering, on his knee. The King stopped his kneeling, raised him, and shook his Grace's hand heartily in both of his (his Majesty's.) At dinner, when the Duke's old servant, and particular attendant, (who had in some action saved his life,) came for some purpose immediately behind him, the King turned round, spoke most cordially to him, and shook himler, Mr. O'Meara, Dr. Gilchrist, Colonel Hodges, and by the hand." The Times assert, that when the Queen lately passed through the city, she was bissed; the Tory papers deny, and the Radical ones scout this symptom. THE COURT-The Court has been very gay of late. Her Majesty has been at the Theatres, and at Fancy Fairs, and the King and Queen were both at Ascot Races. His Majesty dined with the Duke of Wellington on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, and graciously prevented or raised the Duke, who knelt to receive him. To compensate this Tory dinner, the King took a Whig one with his daughter's father-in-law, Lord Holland, where he met his Ministers, The Duke of Cumberland has attained his sixty-second year. His son, Prince George, whom rumour assigned as the future husband of the Princess Victoria, has been wholly deprived of his sight. THE CHURCH. It is said that the king has sent a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, rating the bishops for their vote on the Portuguese question. This is denied by the Tories; and a poor boast were it for a constitutional Whig that thus the king of Britain may interfere with the votes of Peers of Parliament. THE DUKE OF RICHMOND. This nobleman, we understand, arrived in town yesterday. Whether on official duty, or not, we have been unable to ascertain; but it is hoped that his Grace will take advantage of his present visit to inquire into several local grievances, connected with the post-office department, and if possible institute the necessary remedies. Glasgow Paper. The friends of Colonel Evans dined together at the Eyre arms, St. John's Wood, on Wednesday, to celebrate his return for Westminster. Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Lalor, Lord Dumboyne, the Honourable Charles But Dr. Bainbridge were among the gentlemen who attended. of the company loudly cheered, and the remainder hissed: When the toast of "The King" was given, three-fourths it was finally acknowledged with three times three. When "The Queen" was given as the next toast, the strongest execrations, with cries of "No, never," burst from several parts of the room. The gentlemen at the upper part of the table rose to cheer, but now the hisses decidedly predominated. It seems, that instead of "The Queen," it was expected that " The People, the only source of legitimate power," should have followed. This toast was drank the next, with loud cheering, 』 PENSIONS. The sum paid in pensions of one kind or other in this country is very great, and means must be resorted to for gradually reducing it.—“ Would," said Mr. Harvey, the country credit it, when he stated, that in pensions one way or other by superannuations, compensations, and the like-no less than nine millions of money were annually paid! In the pensions chargeable on the English, Scottish, and Irish Civil Lists, and the 4 per cent. duties, there were 1,303 persons of whom 1,022 were of the fair sex, and of 208 persons of title and distinction, 121 were ladies of family.”|||| There was a public procession of the friends of temperance in Preston, on Whit Monday. About 400 males and females, headed by a rich and costly flag, subscribed for by the ladies, and a band of music, paraded the principal streets. A great number of the men were reformed drunkards, most of whom were attired in new clothes. ~ The Pitt Club held their annual dinner on Friday week; an event which we neglected to commemorate in our last Number. Mr. Cartwright, the member for Northamptonshire, presided. The Dukes of Wellington and Newcastle, the Earls of Eldon, Harewood, and Bathurst, and the Marquis of Salisbury were present; but Sir Robert Peel was not there. The new sixpences lately coined have the word sixpence impressed on them, to prevent their being passed, when gilt, as half-sovereigns, a fraud which has been committed to a considerable extent The Custom House receipts in Liverpool during the week before last, averaged L. 20,000 a-day. The intention of working the cotton-mills four days instead of six being now generally resolved upon throughout this district, the master-spinners and manufacturers of the borough have commenced with the present week. The new system of working, therefore, is either to work four days per week of 12 hours each, or six days of eight hours each. The present week terminates with this evening (Thursday.)-Stockport Advertiser. THE CALCUTTA BANKRUPTCY.-A meeting of the creditors of Mackintosh's house had been held there on the 22d, at which it was agreed to accept eight annas per rupee, or 10s. in the pound sterling; four annas to be paid at the end of four years, two at the termination of six years, and the remainder at eight years, Horse-stealing was seldom, if ever more prevalent than at present; not being confined to any particular district, but extending more or less over every part of the kingdom. POLITICAL UNIONS.-A public meeting, called by order of the Northern Political Union, was held on Monday at Newcastle, to consider the conduct of Ministers and of the Reformed Farliament. The number present is estimated at three or four thousand persons. Mr. Charles Attwood, brother of the members for Birmingham and Whitehaven, was in the chair. A petition to the King was agreed upon, praying him to dismiss his " imbecile Ministers." The language held by the speakers at this meeting was very strong. Meetings of a similar kind have been held in various places. PRICE OF CORN WHERE THERE IS NO BREAD TAX. -We learn by private letters from Hamburgh of the 5th instant, that the price of all kinds of grain were declining rapidly at that place and on most parts of the Continent, there being already indications, from the state of the weather and the appearance of the crops, of a most abundant harvest. Wheat, oats, and barley have not been so cheap in the Hanse Towns at any time within the last twelve or eighteen months.-Leeds Mercury. IRELAND. Mr. O'Connell and the New Secretary for Ireland, Mr. Littleton, have been exchanging civilities, and the latter, as one act of energetic government, has ordered the prosecution of Shaw, a policeman, who, under the Coercion Act, committed various outrages in Kilkenny. He will get asy off. The Repeal was not intended to be touched by O'Connell this session, but Mr. Fergus O'Conner resolved to move it himself. A meeting of Repealers was held, and by a compromise, O'Connell has given notice of a motion for next session. Meanwhile, the Government prosecutions continue. Mr. John Walsh, who was convicted of uttering a seditious speech, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and a fine of L.20. He has also given security to keep the peace, himself in L.200, and two sureties in L.100 each. Mr. Thomas Steele has been arrested, on the charge of uttering a malicious libel against the Government, in a speech lately delivered. The Pilot Dublin newspaper has also been prosecuted for inserting Mr.. O'Connell's letters to the people of Ireland. Mr. O'Connell has given notice in Parliament that he means to bring forward the question of the Repeal of the Union early next session. ture of Mr O'Connell, came on on Thursday, but aus quashed for want of the proper number of jurymen. EMIGRATION.In the course of the present season, twenty vessels have sailed from Derry for the United States of America, having on board 2,774 passengers; and twenty for British America, with 3,730 passengers.-Be fast News Letter. SCOTLAND. CITY REVENUE-The following are the Commissioners appointed to manage the receipt and expenditure of the reve nue of the City of Edinburgh:-Lord Melville, Sir Wil liam Rae, Sir James Gibson Craig, John Bonar of Rathe, Esq. banker, Richard Mackenzie, Esq. writer to the signet, William M'Hutcheon, Esq. merchant, and John Learmonth, Esq, merchant, present Lord Provost. This appointment has given great dissatisfaction to the Merchants Company, and the inhabitants in general, who conceive themselves insulted and wronged by it, ANNUITY TAX.-This impost for ministers' stipend has been vigorously opposed of late. The people are far from satisfied with the Lord Advocate's bill. A numerous public meeting was held in the Waterloo Rooms, for the parpose of petitioning against this impost, and for its entire abolition. The petition has been numerously signed. The Magistrates, who have, for so many years, applied the large funds raised by the enormously dear church seat rents of Edinburgh, now assert that this money belongs of right to their revenue. To it the people look to pay their clergy, which it, would do amply. It is not easy to say how the contest will end, though one doubts that the odious tithe, peculiar to Edinburgh-Annuity, will never again be tolerated. IMPROVEMENTS OF EDINBURGH.-The New Bridge over the Water of Leith, at the Dean, one of the most magnificent in the kingdom, has been for some time completed, and the road from it to the Great North Road is in course of formation. By means of this bridge, the steep ascent at Bell's Mills will be avoided. The new road from the Lothian Road to the High Street, by the back of the Castle, will be opened in the course of the summer, and the bridge over the Cowgate, in the line of Bank Street, is also in a forward state. CITY COMMISSION BILL.-We are glad to observe that this bill contains a clause empowering the Commissioners to reduce the salaries of the official persons connected with the city. It is disgraceful, that while the city's affairs are so embarrassed, L.5,000 a-year should be expended in civic expenses, independently of law expenses and public entertainments, for managing a revenue which does not amount to L.50,000 a-year.-Edinburgh Observer. THE SCOTCH BANKRUPT BILL has raised several of our commercial communities in open arms. Glasgow and Perth have taken the lead; they hardly scruple to say, that the Lord Advocate's Bill is contrived to bring grist to the mill of the Edinburgh lawyers. BURGH REFORM BILL FOR SCOTLAND. - The Lord Advocate is singularly unfortunate in his attempts at im. proving the institutions of his native country. We have, from the first, regarded this bill as narrow and vicious in principle, and now rejoice to learn that it has been virtually defeated in the House of Commons. The £10 rent qualification clause (£10 to enable an inhabitant of a Scottish burgh to vote for a local magistrate!) was, on the motion of Sir John Hay, reduced to the more rational sum of £5, Sir John is a Tory, no doubt; but, thanks to the Tory, this amend ment shows sense and honesty. It was lost by one vote only; and may be considered as carried, as it is supported by the people of Scotland. EXTENSIVE FRAUD.-A number of merchants have gone from Perth to London, to give evidence before the Court of Exchequer, respecting a flagrant evasion of Excise Duties, detected by the officers there about twelve months ago. Thẻ duty on teas is graduated according to their kind and quality, and at that time about 20 boxes came to the order of several grocers in Perth, on which an erasure of the Custom The prosecution of Mr Barrett, proprietor of the Dub. house numbers was discovered, with higher numbers sublin Pilot, for the publication of a letter bearing the signstituted, and a like alteration made on the permits which |