Feb. 4. Came on before the High Court of Jufticiary, the trial of Allan Macfarlane officer or expectant of excife, lately in Greenock, now in Edinburgh, and Richard Firman, foldier in the 39th regiment of foot, indicted for murder. The libel fets forth, That on July 4. 1787, Allan Macfarlane and Richard Firmin having been employed, along with others, in making a feizure of a ftill-pot, or pots, or of some of the appa. ratus belonging to a ftil, at the village of Denoon, in the fhire of Argyle; and a fcuffle having enfued at or near the shore, in the neighbourhood of the faid village, at which time Dugald Fergusfon, ferryman at Denoon, now deceafed, had gone into a boat lying off the fhore; Allan Macfarlane gave orders to Richard Firman, and others who were along with him, and who were armed with loaded mufkets, to fire; and immediately Firmin levelled and fired his piece at Ferguffon, whereby he was mortally wounded, and died immediately, or foon after. Mr Charles Hope, as counsel for the pannels, made a very able speech on the relevancy of the libel. He faid, that tho' he did not mean to make any objection to it, yet the circumftance recited in the indictment of "a fcuffle having en faed," would have fufficiently juftified him in fo doing; because that of itself clearly showed, that the murder was not wickedly, feloniously, and deliberately committed, as ftated in the indictment. Mr Hope faid, that, fo far from this beng the cafe, the pannels were employed in the lawful execution of their duty, when they were violently attacked by a great mob of diforderly people, and were put in imminent danger of their lives; Ferguffon, the unhappy fufferer, being the ringleader, and who was employed, at the very inftant he was hot, in putting off their boat from fhore, after having knocked down the two boatmen who were taking care of it. This boat, Mr Hope obferved, was the only means left for the pannels and their party to make their efcape from the great mob in their rear, and who were driving them down to the fhore. Mr Hope therefore contended, that, fo far from the prefent cafe being confidered as a murder, he hoped, and trufted, that, in the course of the evidence, it would fully appear, that the pannels were under the neceffity of doing what they did in felf-defence. VOL.L The Lord Advocate admitted the justnefs of many of the obfervations thrown out by Mr Hope, particularly the unlawful refiftance too often given to the officers of the revenue in the execution of their duty. His Lordship, however, confidered it as his duty, when the life of a fellow-fubject was taken away, to make every neceffary inquiry into the fact; and when he had done fo, to bring the matter to a fair and open trial. Though the pannels were, in this cafe, indicted for murder; yet he did not mean to carry it fo far as to infift for a capital punifhment, being confcious that the pannels had been unlawfully attacked in the execution of their duty; but whether to fuch an extent as to justify firing upon the affailants, was a matter worthy of ferious confideration. His Lordship, after defining very accurately the law refpecting culpable homicide and felf-defence, reftricted the libel to culpable homicide. The Lords, after delivering their opinions at confiderable length, pronounced the ufual interlocutor upon the libel as reftricted by the Lord Advocate. The examination of witneffes being concluded, the Lord Advocate, with great ability and candour charged the jury on the part of the crown. His Lordship abandoned every idea of fubjecting Firman the foldier to any punishment whatever, on account of his having acted entirely under the direction of the excife-officer. His conduct, therefore, was the only thing which remained for the determination of the jury. They were to confider, whether the perilous fituation in which the excife-officer and his party were placed, juftified his giving orders to Firman to fire; and whether that was a neceffary act of self-defence?- Mr Robert Blair charged the jury, with his ufual ability, on the part of the pannels; and the Lord JusticeClerk fummed up the evidence with great impartiality. The jury were then inclo fed, and returned their verdict next day. all in one voice, finding the pannels NOT GUILTY. They were accordingly af foilzied, and difmiffed from the bar. Feb. 18. came on before the high court of jufticiary the trial of George M'Kerracher, tenant in the Ward of Goodie, in the fhire of Perth, indicted for forging or uttering two bills, one for 481. and the other for 491. in the months of April and May laft, upon which payment was obtained obtained at the Bank of Scotland's office in Stirling. The jury returned their verdict, all in one voice finding the pannel GUILTY; upon which he was fentenced to be carried to Stirling, and executed there on Friday March 28. Feb. 15. came on before the high court of jufticiary, the trial of Marga ret Macnair, indicted for fundry acts of theft. A petition was prefented for her, craving banishment, to which Mr William Tait, as Advocate-depute, having confented, the court pronounced fentence, banishing her Scotland for life, under the ufual certifications in cafe of again returning, and allowing her till the 28th of this month for leaving the kingdom. In confequence of an information brought in exchequer, for the determi. nation of certain general points, arifing on the act of parliament impofing the Poft-Horfe duty, a meeting was lately held between Mr Smith, leffee of the faid duty for Scotland, and his counfel, and a committee appointed by the Poft matters of Edinburgh, and their coun fel, for an amicable adjuftment of fome of thefe points. At which meeting the two following articles were agreed on, as thofe which the Pofimafters are not to dispute, but to collect from their employers, and to pay to Mr Smith the duty in fuch cafes.-Imo, That duty is payable by riding horfes, hired for a fetdown, though the traveller baits by the way, if the hire is paid by the mile or ftage.-2do, That duty is payable per mile for horfes drawing a carriage, hired by the mile to travel two or three ftages and fet the traveller down, though the horfes are not changed, and though the traveller ftops or baits by the way. At a meeting of the Edinburgh chamber of commerce, on Feb. 6. the fecretary laid before them a letter from the committee at Manchefter, where the motion originated refpecting the abolition of the Slave-Trade, when, after fome converfation, the directors unanimously agreed, as a body corporate, to petition parliament aga nft that iniquitous fpecies of traffic. Edinburgh is ftill rapidly increafing in buildings. Of this the New Bridge forms a ftriking and brilliant example. The hops on both fides are finished with a degree of elegance and convenience, of which, till of late, we had no conception. There are already finifhed, or nearly fo, on the South Bridge, fifty-two fhops, Vol. 5o. the rent of which is from 351. to 6ol. per annum. and thirty-five warerooms above, from 20l. to 40l. rent. Whert the two streets which lead to the Cowgate are finished, there will be nearly twenty fhops in each. Boroughs of Scotland from which petiThe following is a lift of the Royal tions were presented to the Houfe of Commons on Thursday, Feb. 7. praying for a Reform of their elections, and an account to be given of the public money ;-Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Montrofe, Dyfart, Fafter, Killrenny, Pittenweem, Irvine, Craill, Anftruther Wefter, Anftruther fermline, Linlithgow, Lanark, Peebles, Ayr, Dumbarton, Inverkeithing, DunKirkaldy, Kinghorn, Cupar, Haddington, Dunbar, Brichen, Aberbrothock, Inverness, Elgin, Banff, Nairn, Inverurie, Whitehorn, Stranraer, Sanquhar, Dumfries, Annan, Wigton, Lochmaben, Kirkcudbright, Jedburgh, Forres, Kintore. Total 43. roughs of Scotland from which petitions The following is a lift of the Royal Bofor a reform were not prefented: - Kirkwall, Wick, Dornock, Dingwall, Tain, Fortrofe, Cullen, Inverbervie, Forfar, St Andrew's, Burntifland, Queensferry, Culrofs, Stirling, Renfrew, North Berwick, Lauder, Selkirk, New Rutherglen, Galloway, Rothfay, Campbeltown, Inverary. Total 23. franchised a few years ago for bribery, mitted a petition, but it did not arrive ceived at Aberdeen, on Thursday, Feb. fpinners, and manufacturers of white cot- chair, 66 chair, The Chairman submitted to the confideration of the meeting various letters which he had received from the principal cotton manufacturers in England, all tending, in the ftrongeft manner, to corroborate the general opinion, founded on information formerly communicated-Namely, That the prefent depreffed ftate of the white cotton and muflin manufactures is chiefly occafioned by the interference of a foreign article, of the fame fabric and quality, introduced by the Eaft-India Company into the Britifh market, under circumftances where the juft laws of competition cannot operate; and where the progreffive reduction from year to year, of the prices of the low qualities of Eaft India cotton goods, greatly under what was ever known in former times, and the recent advance on the price of the finer articles, which are not yet oppofed by the British manufactures,-indicate a system, the tendency of which feems to be, to crush and ruin the cotton trade of Great Britain, in thofe particular articles which ftand at prefent in competition with the fame fpecies of goods imported from India." The meeting then came to feveral refolutions expreffive of their determina tion to take all lawful means for obtain ing redrefs. Early in the morning of Sunday, Feb. 17. or late in the preceding evening, the Dundee Bank-office was broke into, and notes or fpecie carried off to the amount of 6ool. A reward of 50l. is offered for the difcovery, or 100l. on the conviction, of any of the offenders. The prefbytery of Edinburgh being met on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Mr Hugh Buchan, city chamberlain, prefented a letter from the Lord Provoft, addreffed to the Rev. Mr. William Paul, Moderator of Prefbytery, to be communicated by him to his brethren, purporting, That his Lordship had laid before the Town Council the memorial and reprefentation of the prefbytery respecting the many profanations and abufes committed in this city and neighbourhood upon the Lord's day, as well as other immoralities particularly enumerated in that memorial and reprefentation, which ought to be fuppreffed: That the Town Coun. cil were very fenfible of thefe flagrant violations of decency and good order, and of the propriety of putting in force bis Majefty's royal proclamation of the It of June last; and for that purpofe had paffed an act of council, a copy of which was inclofed to the Moderator, and read by him to the meeting. The Lord Provoft obferves in his letter, that, in this act no notice is taken of the arri val and departure of the poft on the Lord's day, nor of the barbers and hairdreffers exercising their trade on that day, which make part of the complaints exhibited in the prefbytery's memorial. As to the firft of thefe, his Lordship itates, that upon application from the Reverend prefbytery, and other refpectable bodies, every prudent measure had been taken by the council, that could be devifed, to remedy the evil complained of; but fuch difficulties had occurred in that business that at prefent there was little profpect of fucceeding in it. With refpect to the journey men barbers and hair-dreffers, his Lordship observed, that there had been feveral complaints from thefe defcriptions of men before the council, upon which they had formerly confulted the Lords of Seffion, who join them in matters of police; but there were fuch circumftances attending this matter, that hitherto the council could come to no determination upon it. The prefbytery then proceeded to deliberate upon the letter of the Lord Provost, and the act of council tranfmitted with it. A motion was made by the Rev. Mr Walker of Canongate, and unanimously agreed to, that a letter of acknowledgement fhould be written to the Lord Pro voft, in name of the prefbytery, expreffing their gratitude for the attention which the magiftrates and town council had fhewn to the memorial of their committee, and their hopes that the magiftrates, and the judges who are joined with them in the police of the city, will take fuch meafures as may appear pro. per and effectual for accomplishing the other objects in the memorial, of which no notice is taken in the prefent act of council. The former committee, with the addition of Mr Walker, was appoint ed to write and tranfmit this letter.-Mr Walker then proceeded to call the attention of the prefbytery to another ob. ject, which he was confident would not lefs engage it. They must have observed with pleafure, that God had put it into the heart of feveral refpectable communities, both in this and the neighbouring kingdom, to fupplicate parliament for the abolition of the Slave Trade. He did not think it neceflary to defcribe the 02 execrable execrable nature of this traffic; it was known and acknowledged by every friend of the human fpecies, and must excite their peculiar abhorrence, as the established guardians of religion and virtue. They had lately stepped forth in fupport of both thefe, fo far as they are connected with the devout obfervance of the Lord's day. He trufted they would not now be lefs zealous in the great and generous cause of humanity; and concluded by moving, that the prefbytery of Edinburgh hould petition parliament for the abolition of the Slave Trade. The motion was feconded by Mr Randal. Dr Erfkine fuggefted, that it might be proper alfo to write to the moderator of laft General Affembly, requesting him to call a meeting of the commiffion, in order to procure the fentiments of the whole church of Scotland on this important fubject. This motion was also feconded, and both unanimously agreed to. The prefbytery then appointed Dr Hunter, Meff. Walker, Greenfield, and Moodie, as a committee to prepare the petition, and transmit it with all speed to the care of Sir Adam Ferguffon and Mr Dundas, members for the city and County. They also appointed the fame committee to write to the moderator of the General Affembly, requesting him to call a meeting of the commiffion for the fame purpose. There was lately prefented to the Hon. the Trustees for fifheries, manufactures, and improvements in Scotland, the model of a weaving machine, invented by a gentleman from Galloway. Although this rude model was made almost en. tirely with a common knife, yet he has been able to weave a little web fourteen inches broad in it. A vast number of these machines may be put in motion by the force of water, of a horfe, or of a fteam-engine, and three or more webs may be wrought in one machine, and will require the attendance only of a boy, to drefs the web, take up the broken threads, and renew the pirns in the buttles. At the fame time there was also prefented a rude model of a new pirn wheel, invented by the same gentleman, which will enable one boy to fill twelve, twenty, or even a greater number of bobbins, or pirns, in the fame time that he would formerly have taken to fill one; and this machine will fill them much more regularly than the common pira wheel. BANKRUPTS. Jan. 8. Alexander Hamilton, yarn-mer chant in Strathaven. 10. Alexander Dewar, diftiller at Blackhall. 19. William Swan, late of Coaltown, brickmaker, and fometime merchant in Dunfermline, now refiding in Pleasants, Edinburgh. 14 John Scotland, fhipmafter in Kincardine. 14. William Macgowan, merchant in Alloa. 18. James Tod, butcher and trader in Kincardine. 18. William Bruce maltman and trader in Tulliallan. 22. John Milne, maltfter, and buyer of barley for fale, in Kincardine. 23. James Thomson, merchant in Longkerfe. 24. Charles and Robert Falls, merchants in Dunbar, in company, and Robert Fall and Robert Melvill, the partners in faid company, as individuals. and wright in Stirling. 25. Archibald Telford, merchant-burgess Feb. William M'Cleery, morchant in Kincardine. 1. John Thomson, maltster in Sauchy. 2. John Orr, late merchant in Campbel town. 5. David Caffels, merchant in Kepp. 5. Jeffray and Wilson, wrights in Glasgow, in company, and James Jeffray and Thomas Wilfon, the partners of faid company, as ing dividuals. 9. James Butter, butcher and dealer in cattle in Inverkeithing. 12. Duncan Gray, merchant in Glasgow. 13. Charles Watfon, merchant in Alloa. 14. William Wilfon, one of the partners of James Wilfon & Sons, merchants in Kilmarnock. 14. James Anderson, merchant in Pitathrow. 15. James Campbell, tenant and cattledealer in Drumglay 16. John Harper, tobacconist, Kilmarnock. 19. John Macgowan, tanner in Glasgow." 21 John & George Chiene, fhipmasters and merchants in Craill. 23. Thomas Fernie merchant in Dunfermiine. 37. James Orr, merchant in Alloa. MARRIAGES. July 13. 1787. At Culcutta, Mr Calvert, to Mits Philpot, late of Bedlington, in Northumberland. Jan. 28. 1788. At London, Henry James Jeffup, Efq; of Fludyer-ft eet, Weftminster, Barrister at law, to the Rt Hon. Lady Anna Maria Bowes Lyon, fifter to the Earl of Strathmore. Feb. 2. By special licence, at Lady Briş get Tollemache's in Audley Square, Lord Vilcount Wentworth, to the Rt Hon. the Countefs Ligonier. 8. At Edinburgh, Mr George Wood fur. geon, to Mifs fabella Campbell, eldest daughter of John Campbell, Efq; late of Newfield. 14. At the Earl of Huntingdon's house, in St James's Place, London, the Earl of Aylefbury, to Lady Anne Rawdon, 29. At Edinburgh, the Rev. Mr John Campbell, minifter of Kippen, to Mifs Chrifian Innes, daughter of Dr Robert Innes of Giffordvale, phyfician in Haddington. BIRTH S. Jan. 31. At London, Mrs Henry Drummond, of a daughter. Feb. 8. Mıs Sinclair Aiton of Inchdairney, of a fon. 10. At London, Lady Carysfort, of a daughter. ter. 12 At London, Lady Sempill, of a fon. 12. Mrs Campbell of Fairfield, of a daugh 14. Mrs Dalzell of Glenae, of a daughter. 18. At Prestonfield, the Lady of Sir William Dick, Bt, of a daughter. 19. The wife of Mr Thomas Craig, farmer in the parish of Kickbean, of three daughters, 24. At London, the Lady of Sir William Auguftus Cunnyngham, Bt, of Livingstone, of a fon. DEATH.S. Aug 1787. At Grenada, Peter Gordon, Efq, eideft fon of the late Col. Henry Gordon of Knockefpeck. 21. At an island near Cape Gracias a Dios, Major John Campbell, ton of the lare Dr Archibald Campbell, Profeffor of Church Hiftory in the univerfity of St Andrew's. Jam 16 1788. At Liege, the Hon. Thomafine Barnewall, Viscountess Dowager GorManfton. 19. In the parish of Bryngwyn, in the county of Radnor, Edward Goar, in the 104th year of his age; he retained all his faculties to the last. On the 23d he was buried in the parish church of Cliro in the fame County, attended by twenty men and twen ty women, his relations, who rode on twenty horfes. 22 At St Lucar, Mr Gilbert Sandy, elde ion of the late Mr George Sandy writer in rdinburgh. 16 ir Bulbfter, Mrs Sinclair, wife of James Sinclair, Efq; of Hulburnhead. 30 At his feat at Stagdale Lodge, in Ireland, the Rt Hon. Hugh Lord Baron Maffey. He is fucceeded in his title and extensive tortune by the Hon. Hugh Maffey, M. P. for the County of Limerick 30 At London, in his 104th year, DaBiel Prim. He was a native of Colchester, and was bound apprentice in King William's feign to a weaver in London, where he con tinued to the time of his death, and followed his business till he reached his 90th year. 31 At Rome, at half past nine o'clock, Prince CHARLES EDWARD LEWIS CASIMIR STUART. He was just 67 years and one month old on the day of his death, be ing born on the 31st of December 1720. He was fon to James-Francis, Prince of Wales, fon to James II. The son of James II. was recognised by many courts of Europe as king of England, immediately after the death of his father. As fuch he received kingly honours, had his palace and his guards, and enjoyed the privilege allowed by the Pope to Catholic Kings, that of beflowing cardinals hats. But his fon Prince Charles did not enjoy thofe honours. He was, indeed, called Prince of Wales during the life of his father; but, after that event, he would no longer bear that title, and the Catholic courts would not style him king; fo that his fituation was more agreeable before his father's death than it has ever been fince. His mother was the greatest fortune in Europe; he was the Princess Maria-Clementina Sobieski, grand-daughter of the famous John Sobic ski king of Poland, who beat the Turks near Vienna, and made them raife the fiege of that capital, and thus faved Christendom from deftruction. She had a million Sterling to her fortune. She had two fons by her husband: Charles who lately died, and Henry-Benedict, who by his father was created Duke of York, and who having been promoted to the purple, has been generally known by the name of Cardinal York. The elder fon married, fome years ago, a Princess of Stolberg in Germany; but by her, who is ftill alive, he has no iffue. He has left, however, a natural daughter, whom he lately created Duchefs of Albany. She is about twenty-five years of age, and much refpected for her good nature, piety, and politenefs. To his brother the Cardinal, he has left his claim to the crown of England. It is thought his Eminence will change his title, and affume that of the King-Cardinal. His eminence is in his 63d year; at his decease the King of Sardinia will be the head of the family of the Stuarts, as heir to King Charles 1. from whofe youngest daughter Henrietta-Maria he is defcended; the iffue of her elder fifter having become extinct in the perfon of King William III. — The remains of Prince Charles were carried to krefcati to be interred. When the corpfe had arrived there, the coffin wherein the body had been privately depofited at Rome was opened, and found to contain royal robes, with the fceptre, crown, and fword, together with all the infignia diftinguifling the royal house of the Stuarts. The body was placed in a coffin of cyprus wood, inclosed. in ope of lead, bearing infcriptions and de |