IN

IN our number for August last, we gave a view of the East front of the new range of buildings for the accommodation of the College of Justice. The present view exhibits the West end, which looks towards the High Street. This part of the building will contain a magnificent new library room, 136 feet in length, with other apartments, for the accommodation of the Faculty of Advocates. It will contain also a new Signet Office, with Hall, Library Rooms, and other accommodations for the Writers to the Signet. When the present jail and other old buildings adjoining shall be removed, this front will be in full view of the High Street, and will exhibit a noble specimen of Grecian archi

Lecture.

ced the death of Thomas M'Grugar, Esq. Advocate, with a short notice of his character,-a correspondent having since favoured us with a copy of a letter which he wrote and addressed to a friend, within a ver few days of his death, we now lay the same before our readers, not only as an interesting memorial of the writer, but as exhibiting a striking instance of affecting simplicity and of genuine superiority of mind, on the approach of the last and most awful crisis:

TO ANDREW Steele, esq. w. s.
26th Feb. 1810.

Dear Sir,

THIS will be delivered to you soon after my last breath is expired. As we have always lived on a footing of friendly intercourse, and as I have no male relation, in or near town, to attend to my funeral, or carry my head to the grave, I earnestly request that you will take the trouble of performing this office for me.

The dates shew that Mr M'Grugar survived this mental exertion only a few days, and his dying re

purpose, will at least save his memory from oblivion, so long as the cause for which he was the strenuous advocate, shall excite the attention of his fellow citizens; and his supplement to the three volumes of the Dictionary of Decisions, consisting of cases omitted by the former compilers, was favourably received by the public, as an useful addition to the stock of professional knowledge. Mr M'Grugar died in his 46th year, and was son of Mr M'Grugar, merchant in Edinburgh. O. W.

Letters occasioned by Dr Edmondston's History of the Zetland Islands.

SIR,

LETTER VI.

To the Editor.

HE list of Shetland amphibia

to whom it was addressed, in a manner creditable to both. His remains were consigned to the earth, in presence of a numerous, select company, among whom were to be found some of his professional brethren of the first eminence, who there signified their respect for a man whose merits were not sufficiently known to be universally acknowledged, and who has afforded another proof of a fact already well established, that good talents, a competent share of professional knowledge, as well as great science, joined with inoffensive manners, inflexible integrity, and persevering application, are insufficient, without the co-operation of other circumstances of a less personal nature, to procure for the possessor a just share of the enviable distinc tion of pre-eminent celebrity and popular fame. Zeno's Letters on the reform of the Scotch Burghs, writs ten by this gentleman while he was secretary to the association for pro picting that laudable and patriotic

the Otter.

fre

Of the former, two species are found; the Common, and the Great Seal. The points of specific differ ence between these having never been sufficiently established, it might have been expected, that Dr Edmondston, possessing quency and ease of observation,' would have particularly illustrated them. This, however, he has not done; and I therefore venture to recommend more detailed specific descriptions of the Great and Common Seals, as valuable improvements to a second edition of his book.

The Shetland otter, we are told, "partakes of the character and habits of the common and of the sea otter." The Sea Otter (Mus tela lutris) is characterized by Lin næus as having the hind-feet hairy; the Common Otter (M. lutra) as having them naked. Only this last species (now named Lutra vulgaris) is to be found among the islands

and

and it certainly never partakes of the character of the other. Mr Neill, in his Tour to Orkney and Shetland, has undoubtedly fallen into a blunder in marking the Mustela lutris as a native.

Dr Edmondston seems very willing to believe, that Dr Barry, the historian of Orkney, has committed a mistake in mentioning the White Shark, Squalus Carcharias, as having been occasionally cast ashore in that country. Barry is, however, perfectly correct; although our author may very possibly "never have heard of an animal in Zetland that answered the description." Mr Simmons, an active and intelligent naturalist, who visited Orkney about ten years ago, was there presented with the jaw-bones of one of the white sharks, which had been cast ashore, it is believed, in Sanda; and he carried them with him to Edinburgh. The jaws are of a very different structure from those of the shark tribe generally found in our

Beas.

I now hasten to a conclusion, without entering on the other departments of natural history. I have pointed out about a dozen of mistakes in ornithology. In doing so, I think I have rendered some little service to students of British natural history; and notwithstand ing the author's uncommonly angry epistle in July last, I have confidence enough in his candour to expect that these will be rectified in his promised Ornithologia Zetlandica," or that he will take care to bring forward satisfactory evidence of his being in the right.

After the general testimony which I have borne, in Letter IV., in favour of Dr Edmondston's book, I feel it requisite only to add, that those parts of the subject connected with the usual studies of a physician, seem to me to be very ably treated. I allude to the history of the diseases

Monthly Memoranda in Natural" Hi tory.

October-During the whole of the preceding month, and till the middle of this, the weather has been uncommonly fine. Little or no rain has fallen: the mercury in the barometer has generally stood 30 inches high; and the thermometer has varied from 56 to 68°. Such weather has been very favourable for the labours of harvest, and there is every prospect of plenty throughout the land. In the Western Highlands, in general, the crop is, this year, superior to what is commonly produced. In the island of Arran it is double.

15-18.-Some strong westerly breezes brought rain, and were accompanied with a good deal of lightning, without thunder.

25. The general warmth which has prevailed for many weeks, has made some apple-trees in this neighbourhood produce a second show of blossom, which is now expanding, to be nipt in the first frosts.

Water. The late uncommon drought has produced a scarcity of water in Edinburgh, which has more than ever evinced the neces sity of introducing a supply by an additional pipe of large caliber. The Crawley Spring, near Glencorse Manse, is both copious and of excellent quality, and it flows from a level, which is understood to command the whole New Town. It seems to be generally wished, therefore, that the city should be supplied from this source. An additional reservoir will not be un acceptable to the citizens. Indeed,