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Scottish Chronicle.

GENERAL ELECTION.

IN consequence of the dissolution of Parliament on the 24th of October, and the royal proclamation for summoning a new Parliament to meet on the 15th December ensuing, the General Election of Members has gone on this month throughout the United Kingdoms, and the returns are nearly completed.-The election of members for the districts of Scottish burghs took place on the 24th of this month; and the election of the Sixteen Representative Peers of Scotland will proceed at Holyrood-house on the 4th of December. In our next we shall give a complete list of the Peers and Commons of Scotland returned to serve in the new Parliament.

CITY OF EDINBURGH.

On the 4th of Nov. the Town Council of Edinburgh unanimously elected Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, Bart. to be representative for the city; on which occasion, he delivered the following address:

"MY LORD PROVOST,

"In returning to your Lordship, and the Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh, my most respectful and grateful acknowledgements, for having conferred upon me the honourable and important trust of your representative in Parliament, (a representa tion unquestionably the most distinguished which this country affords,) I am conscious that no pretensions which I can advance could have entitled me to your consideration, or have procured me this high honour.

"In almost every quarter of the Empire, and in every department of the State, you might have found men, the splendour of whose talents, or the eminence of whose services, rendered them more worthy of your choice.

"It is impossible not to perceive, that, in bestowing upon me this signal mark of your favour, you are influenced by motives independent of personal consideration for the individual who is the ob ject of your choice; and that in selecting me, you are merely expressing in my person, your steady attachment and most honourable adherence to the interests of a Statesman who has long and most deservedly possessed your gratitude and confidence, and those wishes you possibly conceive you may gratify, by the election of

Νου. 1806.

one who is connected with him by ties the most strong and indissoluble.

"If such have in any measure been the motives of your conduct, I wish to flattter myself that they are founded on the just assurance, that no partiality, arising from personal friendship, or private connection, could induce the distinguished character, to whom I have ventured to allude, to give any countenance or sanction to your choice of an individual, whom he at least did not conceive to be in some respects worthy of that honour, and in some degree qualified for the proper discharge of the important duties attached to the Representation of the Metropolis.

"I am, however, hopeful, that no expectations exist which my very moderate abilities may be unable to fulfil; you must not expect a distinguished Representative, but you may be assured of having a faithful and a zealous servant, who, in the perfor mance of his duty, will place his chief reliance in your indulgence, and on the access which he has to the counsel and assistance of friends fully acquainted with your inte rests, solicitous for your welfare, and possessing your regard and confidence.

"For the general direction and regulation of my political conduct, I shall hav in view the great landmark of the independence and prosperity of our Country, and of our free and unrivalled Constitution, heightened by the storms which have assailed them, and rendered more conspicuous by the downfall of almost every other surrounding establishment; we have beheld the tempest, and we know how it has been withstood...In the midst of it, we have seen our Country towering in its native strength, in glory, in prosperity and in freedom; we know by what men, and by what measures, those things have been effected. illustrious Pilot is no more! but his course is engraven in the grateful and admiring remembrance of his Saved Country. He has left behind him many able friends, and whoever shall follow his wise and salutary tract, must command ou rconfidence and support; his chief and steadiest friend is still amongst us, the splendour of whose eminent services will long illuminate the annals of his country, and which no combination of adverse circumstances has availed to tarnish or obscure..

The

"In some respects. the duty of your representative is abridged and simplified. The

topics

topics which had of late years created the marked division of parties no longer exist ...We have not now to contend with the advocates of jacobinical revolution, or of delusive peace...the murmurs of sedition are hushed: none dare now avow it, and treason no longer finds abettors in distinguished Demagogues, or leaders of the State ...on the other hand, the justice and necessity of the war in which we are engaged, have ceased to be the subject of dispute... our country has been roused to a sense of its danger, and every arm is raised in its defence...the only difference that can now arise, must relate to the manner in which the war may be most rigorously prosecuted.

"If any more particular test or pledge of my principles be required, let me presume to appeal to the uniform tenor of my public conduct, in so far as it may have fallen under your observation and let me, in this place at least, refer to the roll of the first volunteer corps of this city, on which. I am . proud to say, my humble name was the first inscribed above twelve years ago, at a crisis of great public alarm and danger. It is matter of peculiar satisfaction to me, to observe among those who surround me, a number of friends who can bear testimony to what I have said, and to whose friendship I know my pretensions would be vain, were they not founded on a private character worthy of their esteem.

"It must, I imagine, be to the circumstances to which I have thus presumed to allude, that I ought to ascribe that unanimous and cordial approbation which has been bestowed on my conduct, a reception at once the most flattering and the most encouraging, the grateful remembrance of which no circumstance or length of time can ever efface from my mind.

"I shall only add, that I should indeed be most unworthy of the honour you have conferred, did I not approach the high trust you have confided to me with a sincere, deliberate, and fixed resolution of devoting to the duties attached to it the most unremitting and zealous attention."

COUNTY OF EDINBURGH.

On the 11th of Nov. the Hon. Robert Dundas of Melville was unanimously reelected Member of Parliament for this county.

After the election, he addressed the Freeholders in an elegant and impressive speech. He began by stating, that having now, for the third time, been honoured with their unanimous choice to represent the county in Parliament, he performed a most willing duty in requesting them to accept his sincere and unfeigned thanks for this

additional testimony of their confidence and favourable opinion. Flattering, however, as such a distinction might be, he was cal led upon still farther to express his thanks for the warm cordiality which had marked their support on the present occasion, and which he would be equally insensible not to feel, as ungrateful not to acknowledge. There were various circumstances, partly personal, and partly of a public nature, to which he hoped that he might be permit ted to ascribe the continuance of their confidence.

When first he was chosen as their représentative, he ventured firmly to assure them, that, though he did not pretend to vie with those who had immediately preceded him, in those qualifications which had rendered them eminently useful to their country, he would not yield to them, or to any man, to whom the freeholders might be inclined to give their suffrages, in a conscientious desire to discharge, with fidelity and attention, the trust they had reposed in him and to fulfil, to the best of his abilities, the duties of the situation, either as they regarded the local concerns of the county, or the general interests of the empire. If he might be allowed to consider the result of their proceedings this day as a testimony, on their part, that the pledge then given had not been forfeited, it was impossible not to feel that still stronger incitements were held forth, and additional obligations imposed, for a perseverance in that line of conduct which had received their approbation, and on which the repetition of their choice emboldened him to rely.

There were other points also in which he ventured to believe their opinion coincided, alluding principally to the situation in which the country had been placed during the eventful period since they were last assembled on a similar occasion. When the renewal of hostilities with France, and the strong conviction in the public mind, that the most splendid talents in the country ought no longer to be excluded from his Majesty's councils, had produced the recall of that illustrious Statesman, by whose unshaken firmness and consummate wisdom the country had not merely been saved from political annihilation, but had advanced in power and prosperity, we looked with confidence to a continuance of those exertions, and of that system by which a lone our laws and liberties could be preserved, and the desperate efforts of an enemy rendered abortive and unavailing. Whether the melancholy event by which wa were deprived of those services had, or had not, produced material changes in that system; and whether those changes, if any had taken place, were beneficial to our af

fairs or otherwise, were points which he should not now detain them by attempting to discuss. Few men now ventured to call in question the justice or the necessity of the war in which we were engaged, or to ascribe it to any other cause than the inordinate and insatiable ambition of our enemy. He should feel it therefore his bounden duty, as the most certain method of bringing it to a safe and honourable conclusion, to concur in such measures of legislation, either in matters of finance or otherwise, as might appear to him the fittest to enable his Majesty to prosecute the contest with vigour and effect.

"There may be (he added,) and there probably will be, differences of opinion on the details of all those points; but with the main object stedfastly in our view, with the spirit, and, 1 trust, also the resources of the country equal to the struggle, tenacious of our national honour as of our national liberty, unawed and undismayed by the misfortunes of surrounding nations, from whatever causes proceeding, let us trust to our vigour and the justice of our cause; -the result is in the hands of Providence,

we shall have done our duty."

Mr Dundas concluded by apologizing to the meeting for detaining them on those topics. He felt deeply the importance of them, and he trusted, he felt in common with them all.

Thereafter it was moved, and unanimously agreed to, that Mr Dundas should receive the thanks of the county for his able and upright conduct in the last Parliament, and for his unremitting attention to the interests of the State and of this County.

In the afternoon, Mr Dundas gave an elegant dinner to the freeholders in George's Street Assembly Rooms, at which many other persons of distinction were also pre

sent.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.

On the 4th of November, the Court met to take into consideration the informations given in for the parties in the case, of John Hannah, accused of the murder of Marion Robson, daughter of John Robson, late Tailor in Wetcroft of Lochrutton, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. (See Mag. for Aug.) This person was formerly indicted for the murder of Marion Robson, daughter of John Robson, late Wright in Wetcroft of Lochrutton, in the Stewarty, of Kirkcudbright; and it turned out on the examination of Janet M Minn, the mother of the deceased, that her husband was a Tailor, and not a Wright; upon this circumstance being discovered, the public prosecutor did not proceed further in the rial; and the Jury returned a verdict,

finding the prisoner not Guilty of the murder specified in the Indictment of Marion Robson, daughter of John Robson, late Wright in Wetcroft of Lochrutton; and the prisoner was thereupon assoiizied and dismissed from the Bar. But on the application of his Majesty's Advocate, he was recommitted for the murder of Marion Robson daughter of John Robson, Tailor in Wetcroft of Lochrutton, and afterwards served with new Criminal Letters to stand trial for that crime. The Pannel's Counsel having stated objections in bar of trial the Court ordered informations on the point, which came now to be advised. Their Lordships delivered their opinions at great length, and in respect that the Pannel had been formerly tried, a verdict returned, and a judgment of the Court pronounced thereon, in consequence of an indictment which does apply to the same Corpus delicti, which is now made the charge against him in the criminal letters, found that the Pannel could not be tried again; and, therefore, deserted the diet against him simpliciter, and dismissed him from the Bar.

The Court met on Wednesday, Nov. 5. on the case of John Thomson and John Nilson, found guilty of forging or uttering guinea notes of the Bank of Scotland, knowing them to be forged, (See Mag, for August, p.645.) The Counsel for the prisoners had insisted that no judgment could pass on the verdict, as one Juryman had left the Court before they were inclosed, had been absent about 15 or 20 minutes, and had conversed with several persons before he returned. The Court ordered informations; and their Lordships delivered their opinions at considerable length. Three of their Lordships, viz. Lord Justice Clerk, Dunsinnan, and Meadowbank, were for repelling the objection-the other two, Lords Craig and Cullen, were for sustaining it-Lord Armadale was not present. The Court, therefore, by a majority, repelled the objection; and, in consequence of the verdict of the Jury, ordained the prisoners to be executed at Edinburgh, on Wednesday, the 10th of December next. The Lord Justice Clerk, in pronouncing the Judgment of the Court, addressed him self in very pathetic terms to the prisoners, who appeared much affected by their awful situation.

Thursday, Nov. 20. the Judges (Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Dunsinnan, and Lord Meadowbank) gave judgement in the case of Margaret Cunningham, widow of the Jate John Mason, flax dresser in Pathhead, near Kirkcaldy, who had been found guilty at the Perth Circuit in May last, of mur dering her husband, but whose sentence was delayed as she was pregnant, and was

delivered

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delivered of a female child in the tolbooth of Edinburgh, on the 12th of October. After the Judges had delivered their opinions with great feeling, the Lord Justice Clerk pronounced in a most elegant, impressive, and affecting manner, the sentence of the Court, viz. That she should be carried back to the tolbooth, and fed on bread and water, till Wednesday the 7th of January, when she should be hanged at the common place of execution at Edinburgh, and, her body afterwards given to Dr Monro, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh, to be publicly dissected. The Lord Justice Clerk pathetically recommended to the prisoner to employ the time she had to live in making her peace with God, as she could not have the least hope of pardon for this most atrocious offence. The unhappy woman appeared at the bar with her child in her arms, and did not seem much affected with her awful situation. She had administered poison twice to her husband; the first time the dose had failed, though the poor man was taken ill, and she repeated the dose after he had recovered, which quickly occasioned his death in the greatest agonies. John Skinner, butcher in Path-head, with whom the Prisoner lived in adulterous intercourse, was accused of being concerned with her in poisoning her husband, but was outlawed at the Perth Circuit abovementioned, having made his escape.

It is with much satisfaction we have to state, that the amount of the subscription for the sea fencibles, ship wrights, and some rope makers, who so handsomely voInnteered to go on board his Majesty's ship Texel, to enable her to proceed to sea in pursuit of some French frigates committing depredations on our trade, is L.250 19s. This has enabled Capt. Milne to give to each of the men 11. 5s,; to three Petty officers, 31. 3s. each, and to Andrew Sandilands, a Sea Fencible, belonging to Leith, 201. in addition, having had his leg broke while on board the Texel. A small balance remaining, is to be given to a distressed family in Newhaven.

Charles Duncan, Esq. merchant in London, who died lately in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, at a very advanced age, has bequeathed to the parish of Cumnock, where he was born, the sum of 10001. for charitable purposes; an example of beneficence which, even in this age of benevolence, does not frequently occur.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12. a new Sample Corn Market, in the old Fish Market Close, Edinburgh, was opened, when a number of Dealers and Farmers attended. It is fitted up in a commodious manner, and will answer the purpose extremely well.

Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Hallow Fair of Edinburgh, there was a great show of black cattle, but the sales were rather dull, and the prices low. Good horses, of which there were but few in the Market, brought high prices. There was a vast number of sheep, which went off at reduced prices.

Cow Pox....Since the commencement of the Vaccine Institution at Aberdeen, it appears, that seventeen hundred and seventythree persons, of all ages, have been inoculated at the Public Hall, in all of whom it has succeeded perfectly, excepting in those who, after the operation was performed, did not again make their appearance, so

that its success in those cases cannot be

accurately ascertained. This neglect on the part of the patients subjects them to a small fine, which is paid into the Cashier of the Poor's House.

CALEDONIAN HUNT....Tuesday, (Oct. 21.) Mr Hodgson's Priscilla walked over the course at Tinwald Downs, for a purse of 50 guineas. The Yeomanry Plate was won by Mr Potter's grey gelding, beating Mr Little's grey mare, Mr Sim's grey mare, and Mr Henderson's chesnut mare. Wednesday, Mr Hodgson's Lady Mary walked over for a purse of 50 guineas. A match of 1001. each was won by Mr Doulas's chesnut gelding, beating Capt. Maitland's bay gelding. A match for 30 gui neas, 12st. each, best of four-mile heats, was won by Mr Henderson's chesnut mare beating Mr Poter's grey gelding.... Thursday, the Hunters' Purse of 50 guineas, 12st. best of 3 four-mile heats, won

by the Marquis of Huntly's Tallyho, beating Lord Elphinstone's chesnut gelding.... Friday, apurse of 100 guineas, best of three four mile heats, won by Mr Garthforth's grey colt, beating Mr Hodgson's Priscilla. A match for one mile, won by Mr Gor don's bay gelding, beating Mr Irving's grey mare. A match by the Yeomanry, 2 miles won by Mr Henderson's chesnut mare, beating Mr Little's grey mare. On Fri day the Dumfries and Galloway Hunt gave a ball and supper; and on Saturday, Sir John Lowther Johnston gave another, at both of which all the beauty and fashion of the town and country were present.

FIFE HUNT....The Hunt which met at Cupar on Monday Nov. 3. and continued for the week, had an excellent meeting, and was more numerously attended than it has been for several years. On Thursday the Hunter's purse, of 50l. was won by Colonel Thomson's mare Calomel, beating four others. On Friday, a purse of 501. was won by Mr Baird's bay horse Newbyth, after a very pretty heat. And same day a very close match was run by horses

belonging

belonging to two gentlemen, which affored good sport.

ATROCIOUS MURDER AND ROBBERY.

A robbery and murder of a most daring and unprecedented nature was committed in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 13. about five o'clock. The following handbill, which was issued soon after the discovery, will explain the particulars of this atrocious deed, as far as they are yet known.

HUE CRY

At five o'clock this evening, William Begbie, Porter to the British Linen Company at Leith, was stabbed and murdered in Tweeddale's Close, leading to the British Linen Company's Office at Edinburgh, and robbed of a sealed parcel, in a yellow canvas bag, containing the following particulars, viz. L.1300 of Sir William Forbes and Co's Notes of L.20 each. L.1000 in Notes of Leith Banking Company, of L.20 each. L.1400 in Notes of different banks, of L.20, L.10, and L.5. 240 Guinea Notes of different banks. 440 Twenty Shilling Notes of different banks. In all L.4392.

As the weapon with which the murder was committed was found upon the spot, it is requested that any person who may have sold a common bread knife, with a wooden handle, stained of a red colour, will immediately give intimation as after-mentioned.

Whoever will, within three months from this date, give such information to the Manager for the British Linen Company, the Magistrates of Edinburgh, the Sheriff of the County of Edinburgh, or the Judge of Police, as shall be the means of discovering the Person or Persons who committed the aforesaid murder and robbery, shall receive a reward of

FIVE HUNDRED GUINEAS, To be paid upon conviction of the offender or the offenders. And in case any one of the Associates shall make the discovery, his Majesty's Pardon will also be applied for in his favour.

N.B. It is intreated that bankers, merchants, and others, will take notice of all Notes of the above descriptions which may happen to be presented to them, especially if by persons of suspicious appearance.

William Begbie was seen walking up Leith Walk between four and five o'clock, in company with a man. This person, and any other that saw him, will please to call as above, and give information.

Edinburgh, Nov. 13. 1806. Immediately on the discovery, the most prompt and decisive steps were taken to trace the perpetrator or perpetrators of this atrocious act. Every house of a suspicious character was strictly searched; parties

were dispatched to the roads which lead out of the city in different directions. Several persons were taken up, but still no ingive any distinct clue that is likely to lead formation has been procured which can to a discovery.

The murder was committed with a force and dexterity more resembling that of a foreign assassin than an inhabitant of this country. The blow was directly in the heart, and the unfortunate man bled to death in a few minutes. He has left a wife and four children.

CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.

Whitehall, Nov. 4.-The King has been pleased to order a writ to be issued under the Great Seal, for summoning the Right Hon. Alexander Hamilton, Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, up to the House of Peers, by the stile and title of Baron Dutton, in the county of Chester.

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To grant the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom, to Archibald Earl of Cassilis, by the title of Baron Ailsa of Ailsa; and to John Earl of Breadalbane, by the title of Baron Breadalbane of Taymouth Castle, in Perthshire.

Nov. 4. The King has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, unto the Right Hon. Alan Lord Gardner, Admiral of the White Squadron, and his heirs male, by the stile and title of Baron Gardner, of Uttoxeter, in the county of Stafford.

Nov. 7. His Majesty has granted his royal licence and permission to the Right Hon. and Rev. Earl Nelson, and his heirs, to assume the title of Duke of Bronte in Sicily, with the fief annexed thereto, granted to his late illustrious brother by the King of the two Sicilies.

His Majesty has appointed the Right Hon. the Earl of Roden, a Knight of the Illustrious Order of St Patrick, in room of the Earl of Clermont, deceast.

The Right Hon. Charles Bathurst is appointed Master of the Mint, in room of Lord Charles Spencer.

Philip Francis, Esq. and Sir George Hilaro Barlow, Bart. Governor Gen. of India, are appointed Knights Companions of the most Hon. Order of the Bath.

Nov. 11, The King has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the following gentlemen, and the respective heirs male of their bodies lawfully begotten, viz.

William Fraser of Leadclune, in the county of Inverness, Esq. Lieut. Gen. Geo. Nugent; Capt. Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, Knt. Comptroller of the navy; Capt

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