These are received by Mrs Keir the Manager, No.20, George Street, or by the Clerk, Mr James Bridges, W. S. No. 58, Hanover Street; the last of whom holds the books of the Institution, for public inspection.

I am, &c.

PLAN of the INSTITUTION for Relief of Persons Labouring under Incurable Disease, and incapable of gaining a Li

velihood.

I. THE interest or profit arising on the funds belonging to this institution shall, after deduction of necessary expences, be disposed of, in pensions granted to persons labouring under incurable disease, and incapable of gaining a livelihood.

II. A certain number of these pensions, proportioned to the interest arising from the fund, shall be continued for life; except in the event of convalescence, or misconduct in the pensioner, when they may be withdrawn.

III. To entitle individuals to the benefit of this charity, they shall produce a certificate from the minister, or two elders of the parish where they reside, testifying their good character, and another from a physician or surgeon vouching their incurable malady.

IV. Persons failing, for more than three months after any term of payment, to demand their pensions, shall be struck of the list of pensioners.

V. Pensioners not personally known to the managers, shall produce annually, on the 1st December, certificates signed by a physician or surgeon, that they remain to all appearance incurable.

VI. The principal sum of the fund shall not be encroached on for these or any other purposes.

VII. The funds belonging to this Institution, shall be vested in the

of the persons after mentioned, as trustees for the Institution, who' shall be accountable to the managers after mentioned for the principal sum thereof; and for the interest, profit, or dividends arising thereon, but shall neither be concerned with the distribution of the said fund, nor be liable for each other, nor for omissions, but only for their own actual intromissions.

VIII. These profits or dividends, the said trustees shall pay over to the said managers as the same become due, for which the principal manager's receipt shall be a sufficient discharge.

IX. The said trustees shall be obliged to divest themselves of, or to convey the funds so vested in their persons, whenever validly required so to do in terms of the regulations.

X. James Simpson, advocate, and James Tytler, writer to the signet, having undertaken the said office of trustees, they have been appointed trustees accordingly, and the fund vested in the three per cent. con-. solidated government annuities in their names.

XI. In the event of the death of either of the said trustees, the survivor shall have associated with him, the ministers of St Andrew's church Edinburgh, for the time being; and at the said survivor's death, the said ministers, and their successors in office shall, thenceforth be the sole trustees as above directed, for this Institution.

as

XII. As the funds belonging to this Institution, now vested, above mentioned, are intended to be perpetual, it is hereby declared, that the managers and trustees shall neither raise, transfer, nor sell any part of the same, or of any sums to be afterwards added thereto, unless some unforeseen contingency should render it necessary and eligible so to do, in the opinion of the mana

gers

gers and trustees, without whose unanimous consent, it shall not be done.

XIII. The direction of the fund shall be committed to three ladies residing in Edinburgh; one to be called principal manager, and the others assistant managers, whose offices shall last for life.

XIV. The principal manager shall preside at the meeting of the ma nagers, where in the event of either of the assistants declining to vote, she shall have the privilege of a casting vote in addition to her vote as an individual.

XV. The principal manager shall act as treasurer of the fund; and shall render to the managers an account of her intromissions at each of the yearly meetings after ape pointed.

XVI. The managers shall meet yearly on the second Monday of February, to order the distribution, and regulate the affairs of the fund. XVII. At each of those meetings, after declaring the stated pensions, a certain sum fixed by a majority of the managers, shall be placed in the hands of the principal manager, to be expended at her discretion in cases of urgent distress, either to such incurables as may be already pensioners, or to such as may not then be admitted; of which sum she shall render an accompt to the immediately following meeting.

XVIII. It shall not be in the power of the managers to apply this fund to any other purposes than those here specified, excepting the necessary expences of manage

⚫ment.

XIX. The managers shall not be liable for omissions, nor for each other, but for their actual intromissions only.

XX. As this Institution owes its origin to Mas Elizabeth Keir, wiApril 1812.

dow of the late Dr William Keir, one of the physicians to St Thomas's Hospital, London, she is hereby declared principal manager of the same, during the days of her life; declaring, that upon her death, or the death of any of her successors in office, the heirs of line of her body for ever, whether male or fe male, (such heirs always being heirs in heritage, and the eldest heir-portioner excluding her sisters) shall, if within Scotland at the time, and if not, the next in succession within Scotland, have right to assume the office of principal manager; provided he or she shall be approved of by the existing assistant managers and trustees; and in the event of such person declining the said office, or not being approved of as aforesaid, he or she shall have power to name a new principal manager with the approbation foresaid.

XXI. Failing such succession or appointment, the existing assistant managers and trustees, shall, after the expiration of six months from the vacancy of the office, elect a principal manager.

XXII. The following ladies shall be assistant managers, viz. Mrs Jane Balfour, widow of Major Henry Balfour; and Mrs Jean Craigie, widow of Mr Charles Craigie, both residing in Edin burgh.

XXIII. In case of the death or resignation of either or both of the said assistant managers, successors shall be appointed by the principal manager, who shall likewise have power to appoint extraordinary as sistant managers to act in the ab sence of any of the ordinary mana, gers.

XXIV. The manager shall also appoint a clerk to this Institution, who shall keep a book containing the managers accompts, states of

the

the fund, &c. This book shall remain at all times open to public inspection.

XXV. The clerk shall not receive a salary till the annual interest of the fund shall amount to L. 100 sterling; after which period, the managers shall determine on the amount of the salary.

XXVI. James Bridges, writer to the signet, is hereby declared clerk. XXVII. These regulations are declared unalterable, except by the unanimous vote of the managers and trustees at the time.

Proceedings of the Wernerian Society.

T the meeting of this Society, A on the 7th March, the Se cretary read an "Essay on Sponges, with descriptions of all the species that have been discovered on the coast of Great Britain," by George Montagu, Esq. of Devonshire. From Mr Montagu's researches as to the constitution of it sponges, appears that no polypi, or vermes of any kind, are to be discerned in their cells or pores they are, however, decidedly of an animal nature; but they possess vitality, without perceptible action or motion. Mr Montagu has divided the genus Spongia into five families, viz. branched, digitated, tubular, compact, and orbicular. Only fourteen species were previously known to be British: Mr Montagu, in this communication, described no fewer than thirtynine. A considerable number of the -species are quite new, or have now, for the first time, been distinguished and formed by that indefatigable naturalist.

At the same meeting, Dr Yule read a Memoir on the Natural Method in Botany, in which he defended the existence of the series of natural affinity in plants, against ob

Sir J. Hamilton Dalrymple, Bart. Dr Meiklejohn, Professor of Church History, Edinburgh.

The Rev. Leslie Moodie, Inveresk. Francis Anderson, Esq. Stonyhill, Musselburgh.

Alexander Cowan, Esq. Edinburgh. Robert Dundas, Esq. W. S. Edinburgh.

Thomas Guthrie Wright, Esq. W. S, Edinburgh.

John William Watson, Esq. Edinburgh.

Thomas Hopkirk, Esq. Dalbeth, Glasgow.

Mr Samuel Paterson, merchant, Edinburgh.

Mr James Bell, merchant, Edinburgh.

Mr Robert Morton, merchant, Edinburgh.

Mr

dens, Edinburgh.

CORRESPONDING.

Mr James Paterson, jun. at Wishaw.
Mr George Guthrie, nursryman,
Gowkscroft, Ayr.
Mr David Credie, nurseryman, Gate-
house of Fleet.

Mr Duncan Montgomery, gardener
to his Grace the Duke of Mon-
trose, Buchanan.
Mr William Menzies, gardener to
the Hon. Miss Mercer Elphing-
ston, Meikleour, Cupar-Angus.
Mr James Pace, gardener to the
Right Hon. Lord Ashburton,
Boquhan, Kippen.

Mr John Kyle, gardener to Mr
Stirling of Keir.
Mr Thomas Barton, gardener to
Lord Douglas, Bothwell Castle.
Mr John Ross, gardener to Alex.
Keith, Esq. of Ravelston.

fruit-trees, and on the preserving of apples and pears in sand.

8. From Mr John Wanlass, at Mountwhanie---Description of amelon and cucumber pit, with a model.

Several very fine specimens of Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, were produced; and the committee for prizes reported, that

Mr James Kirk, gardener to the Hon. Baron Hepburn of Smeaton,

was entitled to the medal for

Brussels sprouts; Mr William Affleck, gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of Home, at Hirsell, to that for spring broccoli; and Mr. James Stewart, gardener to Sir J. Hope, Bart. of Pinkie, to that for

winter lettuce.

Spiers of Elderslie.

Mr John Mackray, gardener to John
Lee Allan, Esq. of Errol.
Mr Archibald Gorrie, gardener to
General Stewart, Rait.

A number of valuable communications were read, particularly,

1. From Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. -On the advantages of turning the branches of fruit-trees over the walls against which they are planted.

2. From Mr James Scougal, designer-On the utility of clay paint in destroying insects on fruit-trees. 3. From Mr James Smith, at Ormiston-hall-On the canker in fruit

trees.

4. From Mr John Mackray, at Errol-On the gooseberry caterpillar, and on the worms which infest carrots and onions.

5. From Mr Archibald Gorrie, at Rait-On the turnip-fly.

6. From Mr McDonald, Dalkeith Park-On the culture of the currant bush.

7. From Mr James Stewart, Pin

History.

April. I month, a good deal of

N the first week of the

the snow which had fallen between the 19th and 23d of March, disappeared from the ground; but where it had been drifted, and on high situations, it still continued to lye very deep.

On the 2dinst. a little Auk, Ratch, or Greenland dove (Alca Alle), was found dead among the snow at Friartown farm-house, on the estate of Mr Brown of Newhall, near the foot of the Spittal Hill, one of the Pent lands, distant nine or ten miles from the sea. It had probably been driven so far inland by the force of the wind and snow. But this sea bird, it may be remarked, seems inclined to take short inland excursions. few weeks ago, one was shot while on wing in the valley at the foot of Salisbury Craig, at a time when the weather was not stormy. This is accounted rather a scarce bird in England; but it seems to be a pretty regular visitant

A

visitant of the Frith of Forth during the severe weather of winter. In the Magazine for December 1807 and for January 1808, we have mentioned the circumstance of one be ing caught in Messrs Dickson's nurseries, Leith Walk, and of four being taken alive at one time near Aberlady in East Lothian.

15. Pentland Hills, and even

Arthur Seat hill in the immediate vicinity of Edinburgh, are still mark ed with white stripes of drifted snow. The weather, however, has become favourable for agricultural operations. Peach-blossom on open walls is coming out; and plum-blossom is likewise beginning to show. Common daffodils are just expanding. -25. To-day, a heavy fall of snow again took place, and rendered the country around Edinburgh temporarily white: by next day (26th) the snow was melted, and the moisture will prove refreshing and useful in many cases. Vegetation is, upon the whole, fully a month later than usual. This may probably prove favourable to the productiveness of fruit-trees, in Scotland, and great crops may be looked for, as very few trees were last year overburdened with exhausting crops, In some cases, however, the prevalent lightning of last summer appears to have destroyed or injured the buds destined to produce the fruit of this season; and such trees may possibly require some years to recover. N.

Canonmills, 27th April 1812.J

}

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

Lectures upon Portions of the Old Testament; intended to illustrate Jewish History and Scripture Characters. By George Hill, D. D. F. R. S. E. Principal of St Mary's

of

College, St Andrews. 8vo. 12s. Constable & Co. 1812.

T has long appeared to us a subject of regret, that the practice lecturing should, in this country, have fallen so much into disuse. The reading of the Scriptures, which was universally practised in the early reformed churches, has indeed been rendered less necessary, by the generally diffused knowledge of reading throughout all ranks; but their exposition forms still an object as useful and necessary as ever. Few members of any audience can have leisure and opportunity to clear up the obscurities which exist, to a certain extent, in the sacred writings; and of these few, a part only can be expected to avail their power. We will venture to add, that, if judiciously conducted, erest and variety to pulpit orations, nothing could tend more to give inand to relieve that common-place, into which the constant repetition, even of the most important abstract truths, is liable to sink. Yet, notwithstanding these various uses of lecturing, it seems, in our fashionable congregations, to be almost relinquished as an uncouth and obsolete practice. While this is the case, it appears to us fortunate, that a contrary example should be set, by a preacher so very popular and generally admired as the author of the present discourses. In the mode of execution, too, there appears to us to be much tending to throw light upon the mode of rendering such compositions both pleasing and in

themselves of such means as are in

structive.

The ancient mode of lecturing was not perhaps very well adapted for general edification. A short passage of scripture was selected, which was expounded, verse after verse, with minute and laboured commentary. Such a plan is te