both claffes of witneffes, there may be perfons who would not wish to appear in Court of Justice to give evidence in any cafe, and ftill lefs in fuch a cafe as the prefent. Unfortunate as the herself may have been, fhe would not willingly put any one to unnecessary trouble, or give occafion to any degree of uncali nefs in the minds of thofe perfons.

The petition then goes on to argue on the merits of the cause itself, and contends, that the bill ought to be paffed on thefe two separate grounds, Imo, That the proceedings of the Magiftrates were irregular and illegal; ado, That the fentence pronounced against her is materially unjuit, in refpect that it is not fupported by the evidence on which it is found it was alfo contended, that the fentence of the Magiftrates greatly exceeded the conclufions of the libel, which only went the length of a fine, and that the might be ordained inftantly to remove from her house.

Very elaborate answers were given in for the Procurator-fifcal, where it was contended, That the Magiftrates of a great city must have power to proceed in a fummary way, without regard to the ordinary rules and forms of law; and that otherwife they could not preferve the public peace, or maintain a well-re gulated police. It was alfo contended, that the general conclufion of the libel, that Mifs Barns, "fhould be fined, and otherwife pur hed,' was fufficient to warrant and topport the fentence pronounced against her. And that there was in truth no teverity in the fentence; because, although banished for life from the city and liberties of Edinburgh, fhe might take up her refidence in St James's Square, Park Piace, or any other of the elegant ftreets and fquares not within the liberties of the city.

Upon advifing the caufe, one of the private complainers came forward and denied his being in the knowledge of any riot or difturbance having been in the house, and faid he had been induced to fign the complaint, which he was now forry for.

The Lords, on Tuesday Dec. 22. were pleafed to pafs the Bill, which was, in effect, giving the caufe in favour of Mifs Burns.

Dec. 22. On Friday laft the Lord Proyoft received the following letter, figned A FARMER, which he thinks it his duty to publifh, having no other mode of acknowledging it

"My Lord,

"IN my humble retreat I have heard, and with pleafure, of the various improvements which have been made in our metropolis, and are ftill going forward. That which claims a preference to all others, has been referved for your adminiftration; and I congratulate you on the appearance that your well-directed exertions promife to obtain a support equal to the approbation they merit.

I cannot pretend to emulate the opulent, who so liberally have subscribed to rebuild the University; but I am willing to beflow a little of what I can fpare, to teftify my approbation of a work fo commendable; and hope that the form in which it is offered may not prove offenfive, because it is fingular-I rather hope, that a well meant example, may lead others of my fraternity to an imitation of it,

I have heard, that the nation generally efteemed the most polished in Europe, has stript irtelf of all objects of vanity and luxury, and made offer of them for the fervice of the State. May I then, in imitation of an example fe patriotic, prefume, without offence, to prefent my mite, for promoting your noble underta king, in the frape of TWO STOTS.

In a neighbouring country, not long fince, the carcafe of a bullock was fold at 1s. per pound, every perfon being defirous to have a flice of an animat accounted of uncommon fize. Thofe now take the liberty to offer, are not poffeffed of the fame merit, but I believe they have that of being uncommonly good. As fuch, beg to recommend them to lovers of science, and in a special manner to the adepts in the fashionable fcience of eating, at the approaching feafon of feftivity.

"Wishing all fort of fuccefs and encouragement to your undertaking, profperity to the good city over which you prefide, and happine fs to yourself, I take the liberty to fubfcribe myfelf, "My Lord,

"Your Lordship's

"Molt obedient and moft "Hurable Servant, “A FARMER. P.S. The perfon who will hand you this letter, will inform your Lordship where the two animals are to be found, which will be delivered to your order."

23. Deacon Wilson, yesterday, had a very rapid fale in the Fiefhmarket, for the Two Stots given by A Farrer as his fubfcription to the New College. I hey were fon fold off, a great part of them

at

and expences, of which they appointed a condefcendence to be given in.

And their Lordships, at the fame time, condemned this warrant as irregular in every refpect and they were unanimoufly of opinion, that, to justify an application for a mediatio fuge warrant, it must be fpecially fet forth, That the debtor intends to Ay from Scotland, in order to defraud his creditors: That a ground of debt fhould be produced; or, that the creditor fhould make oath to an exifting debt; and that he believes in his concience the debtor is to By from Scotland.

But the Court were farther of opinion, that fuch warrants are granted fub peri culo of the creditor applying; and that, if on proof it hould appear, that he fwore to his debtor's intention of flying from Scotland without a juft ground of fufpicion, he would be liable in damages; and they were of opinion, from the proof led in this cafe, that Watlon, had he fwore in explicit terms that Laing meant to leave Scotland, would have been able not only to be fued for perjury, but alfo for heavy damages.

Counsel for the purfuer, Dean of Faculty and Mr Robertfon-for the de fenders, Meff. Wight and Corbet.

Hall v. bis Creditors.

26. Thursday the Court of Seffion had under their confideration a bill of fufpention and liberation, at the inftance of Thomas Hall, who was formerly fentenced to be transported to Botany Bay, by a fentence of the Court of Jufliciary; but the fentence was remitted by his Majefty, upon condition of his tranfporting himfelt forth of Great Britain and free land for feven years, after his being libe rated from prifon. The creditors of Hall refufed to confent to his liberation, upon which he applied to the Court, ftating, that the right of the creditors to detain his perfon was merely civil, and that they could not, in coufequence of that civil right, fruftrate the fentence of a criminal court, inflicted as the punishment of a crime. "The creditors, on the other hand, contended, that the fentence of the criminal court was fufpended by his Majefty's par don, upon a certain condition; and that the words of the pardon being, that he fhould banish himself only from the date of his liberation, clearly implied a right in the creditors to detain him. It was further argued, that if he was allowed to withdraw himself from priton, and from the diligence of his cre

ditors, it would be placing aim in a better fituation than a civil debtor who had committed no crime; as any man would prefer a voluntary banishment for a limited time, to close confinement in prison. The question was new, and the Court was confiderably divided upon it.-.They therefore ordered memorials upon the point, in order to give a deliberate judgment upon it.

We hear that a Fulling or WaulkMill, on a new conftruction, a model of which was lately communicated to the Honourable Board of Truflers for the encouragement of Manufactures, has been erected by the Earl of Buchan, at Dryburgh upon Tweed.

This machine was invented by George Pringle, mill-wright at Earifton, in Ber wickshire,

With much lefs friction, and much lefs weight of water, it performs much more work in the fame time than the mills now used, and bids fair to be of great importance to the woollen manufacture.

Woollen yarn mills have been erected at Hawick and Galashiels, and notwithftanding the great obftruction to manu factures, arifing from the fcarcity of fuel, the woollen manufacture is likely to be profitably eftablifhed on the border counties of Scotland.

Dec. 28. This day came on before the High Court of Jufticiary, the trial of William Tennant and George Molyfon, alias Morifon, alias Morfon, alias Moly, indicted, at the inftance of his Majesty's Advocate, for repeated acts of theft, and of being habite and repute common thieves. The libel ftates, that on the 7th of July laft, they flole and theftuously took away, out of a cheft of drawers, in the houfe of James Fowler, change-keeper in Richmond-fireet, in the fuburbs of Edinburgh, nine guineas in gold, two filver broaches, a mourning ring, and a green worsted purfe: That next day, they went to the houfe of David Doig,. gardener in the citadel of Leith, and by forcing open the door of a prefs in the houfe, which was locked, did fteal, and theftuoufly take away from thence thirteen pounds Sterling, or thereby, in fpecie and promiffory notes iffued by banking companies, two gold rings, a pair of fils er fleeve-buttons, a green worfted purse, two harn bags or purses, a lewed purfe or bag, a green purfe, and a small black japanned box: And, That, on the

At Paris, Vernet, the celebrated Sea Painter.

The Hon. Mrs Keith Elphinstone: George Falconier, Efq; of Carlowrie, and a director of the Bank of Scotland. Mrs Buchan, spouse of the City Chamberlain.

Dr John Morgan, Profeffor of Medicine at Philadelphia, Fellow of the Royal College of Phyficians at Edinburgh, and member of many Literary Societies both in Europe and America.

The widow of the deceased Sir William Forbes, Bart. of Monymusk, aged 85 years.

Mrs Houfton of Jordan Hill, by a fall from her phaeton.

In an advanced age, Rear Admiral Varlo.

The Right Hon. James Ruthven, Lord Ruthven of Freeland. His Lordship married, in 1776, Lady Mary Lefley, daughter of the Right Hon. the Earl of Leven, and has left a numerous family. He fucceeded his father in 1783, who had been twice married, firit to Mifs Janet Nifbet of Dirleton, who was mother of the late Lord; next to Lady Anne Steuart, fifter to the Earl of Bute, by whom he had several children.

On Tuefday the 22 ¦ December, a duel was fought in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, in which Mr Francis Foulke of Dublin, who was profecuting the ftudy of Medicine at this Univerfity, unhappily loft his life. This gentleman was unis verfally refpected by thofe who knew him beft, his fellow ftudents. He was If year unanimoufly elected one of the Pfidents of the Natural Hiftory Society, and lately attained the fame hunour in the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh. His behaviour was always gentlemanly and engaging; he had a generous opennefs in his nature, that gained him elteem and affection, and he was warm and fincere in his friendship. He had a tafe for claffical learning and phiJofophy; but he was particularly atten tive to thofe ftudies which his purfuits and future profpecs required. His talents, though not brilliant, were folid, and promised to make him, one day, a respectable and a valuable member of foeiety. But the hopes of his friends have been bla by an event origin.ting in the cafualty of a nocturnal squable. Promotions.

The king has been pleafed to appoint

the Right Hon. Lord Auckland Auba fador Extraordinary to the States General, in room of the Right Hon. Alleyne Fitzherbert, who is gone on the fame character to the Court of Spain.

Lord Henry Spencer, Secretary of Embafly to their ign Mightneffes.

Michael Ghilini, Etq; is appointed his Majefty's Conful at Cagliarie, in room' of Clemont Richardfon, Efq, deceafed.

The dignity of a Baronet is granted to Francis Buller, one of the Juftices of the Court of King's Bench.

Sir John Laforey, Bart. is promoted to be Rear Admiral of the White, taking rank next after Sir Charles Middleton, Bart.

Mr Tenent of Sorn has prefented Mr Geo. Gordon, probationer, to be Mini fter of Sorn, in the County of Air.

The fion. John Hope is appointed a Captain in the 17th Regt. of Dragoons.

Major Richard Wilford, from the 6th Regt. of Dragoon Guards, is ap pointed Lieut. Col. of the 8th Regt. of Dragoons, vice. Col. St George, refign

ed.

The three following Irish Barons, viz. Lords Balmore, Conyngham, an! Loftus, are advanced to the dignity of Viscounts in Ireland, by the same title.

The Town Council of the city of Edinburgh, have prefented the Rev. Mr James Finlayfon, Minifter of Borthwick, and Professor of Logic in this University, to be Minifter of Lady Yefter's Church, in room of the Rev. Mr Geo. Baird, of Dunk who had declined to accept of a prefentation granted him fome week sago. Dr James Gregory, to be Professor of Practice of Phyfic, in room of Dr Cullen, refigned.

Dr Duncan, Profeffor of the Theory of Phyfic, in room of Dr Gregory.

The University of Glafgow have conferred the degree of D D. on the Rev. Mr Samuel Charters at Wilton, and the Rev. Mrs James Bell at Coldstream.

The King has prefented the Rev. Mr John Gowans to the Church of Lunan, and the Rev. Mr Jomes Donald, to the Church of Glenifla, both in the county of Forfar.

Thomas M'Donoch, Efq; is appointed British Conful, in the provinces of New England, and

John Hamilton in Virginia.