Marquis Cornwallis Earl of Liverpool “We, the underfigned, being highly fenfible how neceffary the prefervation of public credit is at this time, do moft readily hereby declare, that we will not refufe to receive Bank Notes in payment of any fum of money to be paid to us, and we will ufe our utmoft endeavours to make all our payments in the fame Brook Watfon, &c." manner. It was alfo the opinion of the meeting, that the Bankers fhould all agree only to pay the fractional parts of draughts in fpecie, fo that every person might remain on an equality. March 4. A fmall quantity of one and two pound notes were iffued from the Bank, principally for the use of the country. A very large iffue was to be made in the course of this day and to-morrow, 6. This day the Governors of the Bank iffned quantity of dollars, to order to relieve the prefent embarraffwhich the Tower Stamp is affixed, in Thefe dollars, altho' intrinfically worth ment arifing from a fcarcity of fpecie. only 45. 2d. are to pass for 4s. 9d. SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH, March 1. 1797. numerous and refpectable meet At a Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Signed) W. Fawkener. Upon the reprefentation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ftating that from the refult of the information which he has received, and of the enquiries which it has been his duty to make, refpecting the effect of the unufual demands. for fpecie, that have been made upon the metropolis, in confequence of ill-founded or exaggerated alarms in different parts of the country, it appears that, unless fome measure is immediately taken, there may be reafon to apprehend a want of a fufficient fupply of cash to answering of the inhabitants of Edinburgh,— the exigencies of the public fervice. It is The Lord Provoft in the chair, the unanimous opinion of the Board, that it is indifpenfibly neceffary for the public fervice, that the Directors of the Bank of England fhould forbear iffuing any cash in payment until the fenfe of Parliament can be taken on that subject, and the proper measures adopted thereupon, for maintaining the means of circulation and fupporting the public and commercial credit of the kingdom at this important conjuncture; and it is ordered that a copy of this Minute be tranfmitted to the Directors of the Bank of England, and they are hereby required, on the grounds of the exigency of the cafe, to conform thereto until the fenfe of Parliament can be taken as aforefaid. (Signed) W. Fawkener. Manfion-boufe, London, Feb. 27, 1797. At a meeting of Merchants, Bankers, &c. held here this day, to confider of the fteps which it may be proper to take, to prevent embarrassments to public credit, from the effect of any ill founded or exaggerated alarms, and to fupport it with the utmost exertions at the present important conjuncture The Lord Mayor in the Chair, Refolved Unanimously, His Lordship read the order of the Privy Council inferted in the preceding column. Thereafter the Lord Provoft read the following refolution of the Directors of the Banks, adopted in confequence of the above order of the Privy Council, and correfponding meafures taken by the Bank of England:-In pursuance of the * above Order, the Bank of Scotland, "the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Bri"tish Linen Company, Sir Wm. Forbes, "James Hunter, and Co. and the Leith "Banking Company, hereby intimate, "That they are to forbear iffuing any "fpecie in payments, until the fenfe of "Parliament fhall be known on that "fubject. In every other refpect, bufi"nefs will be carried on as usual, by the "above Companies, in all their offices in "town and country." Sir John Inglis of Cramond, Bart. highly applauded the conduct of the Directors of the above Banks on this occafion, and moved, That the Meeting do approve of the conduct of the above Banks in conformity to the order of the Privy Council, and of the resolution they have taken not to make payments in fpecie, until the fenfe of of Parliament, concerning the above order of the Privy Council fhall be known, but to carry on their bufinefs in every other respect, as usual, at all their offices in town and country. This refolution was feconded by the Lord Prefident of the Court of Seffion, and unanimoufly approved of; and the Meeting thereafter unanimously refolved, 2d. That they will give the Banks every countenance and fupport in their power, by lodging money with them, and taking notes in payment in the courfe of all their dealings, and tranfactions, as ufual. 3tio, That the Public ought to difcourage, to the urmoft of their power, the attempts of every perfon who fhall act contrary to the spirit of these refolutions. 4to. That the above refolutions, together with a fhort addrefs to the public on this fubject, be fubfcribed by the meeting; and a paper for the fubfcription of fuch of the inhabitants of Edinburgh and its neighbourhood, as had not notice of the meeting, be left at Merchants Hall. ADDRESS. The attention of the public is earneftly recommended to the above refolutions, which were adopted in conformity to the measures which the Privy Council have judged it neceffary to recommend. At the fame time it was with great pleasure, that the meeting received the most satisfactory information, that there never was at any time more specie in the Banks than at this moment. The public may be affured, that the commercial and mercantile credit of this country refts on the fureft foundation, and is in no danger whatever. Groundless and exaggerated alarms operating on the fears of the ignorant, or misinformed part of the community, may produce a temporary embarraffment in any country; but the names fubfcribed to this paper, and the property thereby pledged, ought to fatisfy the minds of the public, that the credit of the Banks which they have refolved to encourage and fupport is moft fubftantial and entire. And we hereby pledge ourselves to abide by the above resolutions, to give every encouragement and fupport in our power to the Barks; to lodge our money with them as formerly, and to accept of their Notes in all payments and dealings whatsoever. The merchants and inhabitants of Glasgow have come to fimilar resolutions. Daring houfe-breaking and robbery. The following circumftantial account of a burglary committed on John Barr, Farmer at Gryffe Castle, in Renfrewshire, on Sunday 19th March, the moft daring, perhaps, ever committed in this country, was written by the mother of the fufferers, to a friend in Glafgow: On the 19th inft. about eleven o'clock at night, when the family were all in bed, the houfe was invefted by a band of robbers, outfide and in: three of them with murdering inftruments, cutlaff, mallets, and bludgeons, and the fourth with a rope. They firft broke open the door with great ftones; then fet a fentinel over each bed; and, with the cutlaffes over their heads, demanded from my fon and daughter all their money that inftant. They fharpened their cutlafses before their eyes; said they would be damned if they would kill a woman, but that if they did not give up all they had, they would kill him immediately. They would not fuffer any of them to rife, excepting the maid fervant, whom they ordered to light candles for them, while part of them ftill food with cutlaffes over their heads. My daughter begged that they would fave her hufband's life, and the would give them all they had. Her husband then bid the fervant take his defk key out of his pocket, and give it to them, but there was no money at the time in it.-They then fwore that they would not be made fools of, they knew he had money, and they would have it, or his life. He then told them that his pocket-book was in his pocket, with twelve guinea notes and a little fmall filver, which they took, and then demanded the keys of the drawers; and before the maid could get them, they burst one of them open and broke it. When they got the keys they opened the reft, and firft laid hold of the tea fpoons and tongs, then on a small box containing fome trinkets, and about forry fhillings in filver.-She faid the would afk one favour, that was her wedding ring; the poor wretch had not the power to refufe, but held out his hand and allowed the maid-servant to pick out every article except the money; but the reft being enraged that they had not got more, told him, with terrible threats, that that was nothing to what he had. They then prefented the rope, faying, that they would that moment hang him and cut him all to pieces, if he did not give them more money. In this dreadful fituation, poor Jefs got refolution to fpeak, and faid, "Gentlemen, I take you for Gentlemen, and I hope you will act as fuch, and hear the intreaties of a poor woman to fave her husband's life. If you'll allow me, I will come out of bed and fit down on my bare knees, and beg his life. There is my cloathes, and all that I have in the world at your fervice, only fave his life." With this the wretches hearts feemed foftened, and two of them fhook hands with her, and went to the door and spoke to the reft; but they being difpleased at not getting more money, fwore they would hang him up and cut him as small as cabbage for the po'. When the maid heard this fhe ran into the room, and pulled them out of bed, and through the byre, naked, and one ran the one way and the other another, and by the bleffing of God efcaped with their lives. Three Irifhmen are fufpected of being concerned in this daring robbery. A reward is offered by the Sheriff of Renfrewshire, for their apprehenfion. 21. Early on the morning, a fire was difcovered in a cotton fpinning houfe in Campbell Street, Glafgow, which raged with amazing fury, for above two hours, till the whole interior of the building was completely confumed. The heat was fo intenfe, that the fire-men could not ap proach fo near with the engines as to afford them any hope of checking the progrefs of the flames in the building where the fire broke out; their efforts were therefore directed to the prefervation of the adjacent tenement of dwelling-houses, which was frequently on fire, and in which they at laft fortunately fucceeded. By the falling of part of the ftaircafe, feveral people have been feverely bruifed. The Magiftrates, with a detachment from the Gordon Fencibles ftationed in the barracks there, and a number of the Royal Glafgow Volunteers, attended on the firft alarm, to preferve order and protect the property which was neceffarily removed from the neighbouring houses. Lately, at Sanquhar, Mr Alex. Burnet, manufacturer, to Mifs Jane Williamson, daughter of the late James Williamfon, Efq. of Trolofs. fon, farmer in Newmains, to Mifs CharFeb. 10. At Dunfe, Mr Wm. Aitchilotte-Margaret Paterfon, of Dunfe. Advocate, to Mils Elifabeth-Mary Innes, 16. At Edinburgh, James Rofe, Efq. only daughter of the deceased Thomas Innes of Monellie, Efq. W. S. At London, by fpecial licence, the Hon. Mr Dundas, fon of Lord Dundas, the Duke of St Alban's. to Lady Carolina Beauclerc, daughter to 19. At Old Aberdeen, Mr Rob. Eden Scott, Profeffor in the King's College, to Mifs Rachel Forbes of Thainftown. 21. At London, Captain Richard Fitzgerald, of the 68th regiment, to the Hon. Mrs Keith Stewart. 24. Mr John Thomfon, infurance broMr William Gibfon, merchant in Edinker, to Mits Cecilia Gibson, daughter of burgh. 28. At Edinburgh, William Dallas, Efq. W. S. to Mifs Elizabeth Kerr, youngest daughter of the late Jas. Kerr, Efq. of Jamaica. -Cortland Skinner, Efq. to Mifs Macartney, daughter of the late Captain Macartney, of the Royal Navy. March 4. At London, Sir J. Menzies of that Ilk, Bart. to the Right Hon. Lady Charlotte Murray, eldeft daughter of his Grace John Duke of Atholl. March March 4. At Colchefter, Brigade-Major Robert Douglas, of the 30th regt. of foot, to Mifs Charlotte Boggis, youngest daughter of Ifaac Boggis, Efq. 6. At Edinburgh, Mr Robert Auld, merchant St Petersburgh, to Mifs Margaret Hadow, daughter of the late James Hadow, Efq. General Surveyor of Excife. 7. At Larges, Mr William Jamiefon, manufacturer there, to Mifs Margaret Ferrie, only daughter of the late Mr Jas. Ferrie, fhipmafter in Saltcoats. 11. At Highfield, James Grant, Efq. younger of Bught, to Mifs Margaret Gillanders, eldeft daughter of the late Alexander Gillanders, Efq. younger of Highfield. 11. At Edinburgh, Chriftopher Fuller, Efq. of Fuller's Hall, South Carolina, to Mrs Col. Macdonald, fecond daughter of the late William Innes, Esq. of Sandfide, Caithness. 13. At Port-Glasgow, the Rev. Wm. Nicol, minifter of the Scots Church, Swallow-ftreet, London, to Mifs Sufannah Cumming, daughter of Mr Robert Cumming, merchant, Port-Glasgow. 16. At Canonmills, William Inglis, Efq. W. S. to Mifs Stein. DEATHS. In the East Indies, on the 22d of April at Ramnaudapatam, Lieut. P. Wright, fon of Dr Peter Wright, phyfician in Glasgow. At New York, on the 31ft of August, where he had gone for the recovery of his health, George Alexander Stoddart, Efq. late of St Chriftopher's. At Bellfield, in the parish of St James, Jamaica, George Crawford, Efq. on the 26th October. On the 13th of November at Charlefton, South Carolina, Mr Nicol Prime rofe, youngest fon of the late Mr Robert Primerofe, furgeon in Muffelburgh. At New York, on the 28th of November Mr Robert Bruce-and on the 21ft December following, died alfo Mr Peter Bruce, his brother, and only furviving partner of the mercantile houfe in that city, under the firm of Meff. Robert and Peter Bruce. Thefe gentlemen were natives of the town of Inverary. In the West Indies, on the 19th November, on board his Majefty's floop Merlin, David Hunter, third fon of David Hunter of Blackness. At Barbadoes of a fever, on board the Ganges tranfport on the 15th December, Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Hay, of the 31ft regiment. Lately, at Baffeterre, in Guadaloupe, where he had been detained as a prifoner of war fince the 29th of March laft, Malcolm Rofs Macpherfon, Efq. Enfign in the 4th battalion of the 50th regiment of foot; a young gentleman of very promifing abilities, whofe gentleness of manners and manliness of difpofition endear ed him to all his acquaintances. He was the eldest son of Mr Alex. Macpherson, writer in Inverness, and grandfon of the deceafed Malcolm Rofs, Efq. younger of Pitcalny. Lately, at Martinique, Mr G. Macau lay, Hofpital Mate. the Countefs of Derby, who was Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, fifter to the Duke of Hamilton, and half-fifter to the Marquis of Lorn. Her Ladyfhip was born in the palace of Holyroodhouse the 26th Jan. 1753. Feb. 15. Mr Jas. Donaldson, merchant in Glasgow. At Kilmarnock, Mrs Mary MacHowl, fpoufe to John Parker, Efq. of Bar leith. 16. At Edinburgh, the Hon. Mrs Jane Falconar, daughter of David Lord Falconar, of Halkerton, and relict of Jas. Falconar of Monktown, Efq. At Perth, Mr George Craigdaillie, furgeon. At Mylnefield, Thos. Mylne, Efq. of Mylne field. 18. At London, Mrs Dalrymple, wife of Robert Dalrymple, Esq. of Manchefter Street. -- At Perth, Mr James Marshal, manufacturer. - At Edinburgh, after a few days illnefs, Mr Robert Meikle, writer: A gentleman who poffeffed uncommon equanimity of temper and urbanity of manners, which, when conjoined with his focial qualities, endeared him to an extenfive circle of refpectable friends. He was attentive in bufinefs, and remarkably affable to all who employed him in his official department. He filed, with credit to himfelf and advantage to the Grand Lodge, the offices of Clerk and Secretary; the former for the space of 1s years, and the latter 15 months. 19. At Thropilee, near Egham in Surry, Capt. John Wemyfs, late of 59th regiment; an Officer of approved bravery and manners, though few, if any, have been more unfortunate. In 1774, he was fent to the Continent, to fit him for a military life, in the 16th year of his age; and had a fupernumerary Enfign's commiffion in the Scotch Brigade till 1976, when whem he entered into the 59th regiment; and, after ferving three cam paigns in camps in England, and at the fiege of Gibraltar, he was kept prifoner in France from 1792 to 1995, and thereby thrown into a complication of difeafes, which terminated his eventful life in the fummit of manhood! Feb. 20. At Edinburgh, Mrs Helen Coutts, wife of Jas. Ferrier, Efq. W. S. 21. At St Andrews, Mils Margaret Stark, aged 81. At Edinburgh, the Lady of Robt. Dalzel, Efq. of Glenae. 28. At London, And. Thomson, Esq. late of Glasgow, aged 78. March 2. At Gogar, Lieut. Robert Kirkland, late of the 59th regiment. 4. At Edinburgh, Mrs Mackay, widow of the Rev. Alexander Mackay, in the 89th year of her age. At Aberdeen, in the prime of life, Mils Jane Gibfon, daughter of Mr William Gibfon, fenior, merchant there. 5. At Dumfries, Mrs Mary Morrifon. At London, Lieut. Gen. Charles Rofs, of Morrangic, Colonel of the late jad or Royal, Manchetter volunteers. 6. At Old Deer, in the fo2d year of her age, Catherine Ogfton, a widow. At Edinburgh, Mis Janet Seton, widow of the late William Cuming, Efq. banker in Edinburgh. Orme, relict of Mr Thomas Young, clergyman of the Epifcopal Church of Scotland. March 7. At Hamilton, Mr Archibald Fullerton, Supervitor of Excise. --. Mrs Hamilton, relict of the late Mr John Hamilton of Garthamlock. 9. At Mill of Mayen, Mr William Thomson, late merchant in Aberdeen. At Silvermills, Mifs Elizabeth Peddie, youngest daughter to Captain James Peddie, of the zift regiment of foot. 11. At Kello, the Rev. Dr Bowmaker, minifter of Dunfe. At King's College, Old Aberdeen, Protei Thomas Gordon, in the 8;d year of his age, who, for a period of ups wards of 60 years, had creditably dif charged the duties of his office. 12. At Dundee, at an advanced age, James Johnfton, Efq. furgeon, and late Provoft there. After many years fervice in different parts of the world, as a furgeon of the British navy, he fettled in Dundee, and was long diftinguished in it, by his usefulness both as an able furgeon and an active civil Magiftrate. At Glafgow, on Sunday laft, Mrs Gow, relict of the Rev. James Gow, late minifter of Cargill. 13. At Edinburgh, fuddenly, Mr Jas. Nielfon, clerk to Sir H. Moncreiff Wellwood, as General Collector of the fund eftablished for a provifion to minifters widows, &c.-Mr Nielfon had been in the fame capacity with Dr Webster, and Mr Stewart, the former Collectors; and executed the office with moft fingular ability upwards of thirty years. He can never be furpaffed in the knowlege of the bufinefs entrusted to him, in accuracy, in fidelity, in moderate views of every thing, in modeft and unaffuming virtues. To him the fund has been indebted for much of its profperity and the prefent Collector, who inferts this account of him, has good reason to remenber as long as he lives his perfonal obligations to him. What is remarkable, he was born in 1744, the first year of the fund to which he devoted his life, and died a few weeks after the Truftees had intimated to the contributors, that the capital ftock to which the fund is limited by act of Parliament is within a few hundred pounds of being completed. At Cambeltown, Mrs M'Kay, fpoufe of Hugh M'Kay, writer, and one of the prefent Bailies of Cambeltown. 14. At Ely in Fife, Mifs Elizabeth Scott, daughter of the deceased Dr John Scott of Coats. |