and anxious defire to advance the welfare, and increase the fame, of the city of Edinburgh, "In the name of the Craft of Free and Accepted Masons, and in my own, 1 fincerely implore the protection of the Supreme Architect of the Univerfe, on your Lordship, and your brethren in the Magiftracy. May you long continue here the ornaments of civil fociety; and may you hereafter be received into thofe man. fions, thofe Lodges, prepared in Heaven for the bleffed!" To this addrefs the Lord Provoft, in name of the Magiftrates and Town Council of the city of Edinburgh, made a fuitable reply. The Grand Master next addreffed the Principal, as reprefenting the University of Edinburgh, as follows: Reverend Sir, "Permit me to congratulate you, as Principal, and your Brethren as Profeffors of the University of Edinburgh, on the work in which we have this day been engaged.-A work, worthy of your patrons, who (ever confidering the public good) will not permit the feat of Learning, established in this Ancient Metropolis, to bear the appearance of decay, at a time when fo much attention is bestowed on the elegance and convenience both of public and private edifices. "Permit me likewife to congratulate my country on the probability of feeing the different Chairs of the Magnificent Structure, now to be erected, filled by men fo diftinguifhed for their piety, fo eminent for their learning, and fo celebrated for their abilities, as those to whom I now have the honour of addreffing myself. Any panegyric I can pronounce, muft fall fo far fhort of what is due to you, Sir, and your Honourable and Learn ed Brethren, that it would be prefump tion in me to attempt to exprefs my fenfe of your deferts. Suffice it to fay, that the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Lodges depending on it, are most happy in having this opportunity of affifting at, and witneffing the laying the foundation from whence, it is their earnest wish, a building may arife, which in future ages may be as renowned for the excellence of its Teachers, and as much refpected for the propriety of conduct in its Students, as the Univerfity now is over which you have the peculiar fatisfaction of prefiding. May the Almighty Architect, the Sovereign difpofer of all events, grant, that the Principal and Profeffors of this College may continue to deliver their inftructions, and the Students to receive their admonitions, in fuch a manner as may redound to the glory of God, the promoting of Science, and the extenfion of all ufeful learning." To which the Reverend Principal made the following reply: "My Lord, "From very humble beginnings, the University of Edinburgh has attained to fuch eminence as intitles it to be ranked among the most celebrated feminaries of learning. Indebted to the bounty of feveral of our Sovereigns; diftinguished particularly by the gracious Prince now feated on the British throne, whom, with gratitude, we reckon among the most munificent of our Royal benefactors; and cherished by the continued attention and good offices of our Honourable Patrons, this Univerfity can now boaft of the num ber and variety of its inftitutions for the inftruction of youth in all the branches of literature and science. "With what integrity and discern, ment perfons have been chofen to prefide in each of thefe departments, the character of my learned colleagues affords the moft fatisfying evidence From confidence in their abilities, and affiduity in difcharging the duties of their refpective offices, the University of Edinburgh has become a feat of education, not only to youth in every part of the British dominions; but, to the honour of our country, Students have been attracted to it from almoft every nation in Europe, and every State in America. "One thing ftill was wanting. The apartments appropriated for the accommodation of Profeffors and Students were fo extremely unfuitable to the flourishing ftate of the University, that it has long been the general wish to have buildings more decent and convenient erected. What your Lordship has now done, gives a near profpect of having this with accomplished; and we confider it as a moft aufpicious circumstance, that the foundation-stone of this new mansion of science is laid by your Lordship, who, among your ancestors, reckon a man whofe original and univerfal genius pla ces him high among the illuftrious perfons who have contributed most eminently to enlarge the boundaries of human knowledge. Permit me to add, what I regard as my own peculiar felicity, that, by having remained in my prefent ftation much longer than any of my predecettors, I have lived to witnefs an event fo benefieial to this University, the profperity of which is near to my heart, and has ever been the object of my warmest wishes. May Almighty God, without the invocation of whorn no action of importance fhould be begun, biefs this underta king, and enable us to carry it on with fuccefs. May he continue to protect our Univerfity, the object of whofe inftitutions is to inftil into the minds of youth principles of found knowledge, to infpire them with the love of religion and virtue, and to prepare them for filling the various fituations in fociety with honour to themfelves, and with benefit to their country!-All this we afk in the name of Chrift; and unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we aferibe the kingdom, power, and glory. Amen." After the Principal had finished his fpeech, the Brethren again gave three huzzas, which concluded the ceremony. Two crystal bottles, caft on purpofe at the Glafs-house of Leith, were depotited in the foundation-ftone. In one of these were put different coins of the present reign, each of which being previously enveloped in cryftal, in fuch an ingenious manner, that the legend on the coins could be diftinctly read without breaking the cryftal. In the other bottle was deposited seven rolls of vellum, containing a fhort account of the original foundation and prefent ftate of the Univerfity, together with feveral other papers, and the latest Edinburgh Newspapers containing advertisements relative to the College, &c. and a lift of the names of the prefent Principal and Profeffors; alfo of the prefent Lord Provoft and Magiftrates, and Officers of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The bottles being carefully fealed up, were covered with a plate of copper wrapt in block tin: and upon the under fide of the copper were engraved the arms of the city of Edinburgh, and of the Univerfity; likewife the arms of the Right Hon. Lord Napier, Grand Mafter Mafon of Scotland. Upon the upper fide, a Latin infcription, of which the following is a copy: ANNUENTE DEO OPT. MAX. ACADEMIÆ EDINBURGENSIS ÆDIBUS, INITIO QUIDEM HUMILLIMIS, ET JAM, POST DUO SECULA, PENE RUINOSIS; NOVI HUJUS ÆDIFICI, UBI COMMODITATI SIMUL ET ELEGANTIÆ, TANTO DOCTRINARUM DOMICILIO The Right Honourable Francis Lord Napier, Of a prodigious concourfe of all ranks of people, In which a union of elegance with convenience, On the 16th day of November, Thomas Elder being the Lord Provoft of the City, May the Undertaking profper, and be crowned with Success! The Anthem being fung, the Breth ren, &c. returned to the ParliamentHoufe, the proceffion being reversed. The Grand Master was fupported, on the right hand, by Sir William Forbes, Bart. a former Grand Mafter; and on the left by his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh. The Lord Provoft, Magiftrates, and Council walked in their robes; his Lordfhip being fupported on the right and left by the two eldest Bailies. Principal Robertfon was fupported on the right hand by the Rev. Dr Hunter Profeffor of Divinity, and on the left by Dr Hardie, Profeffor of Church History: The other Profeffors, and a great number of Students, followed. The Profeffors were in their gowns; and all of them, as well as the Students, had a sprig of laurel in their hats. A large drawing of the east front of the New College was carried in the proceffion, before the Grand Lodge, by two operative mafons. The mufic, both vocal and inftrument al, was well conducted, and confifted of the popular tunes of the King's Anthem, Rule Britannia, The Conquering Hero, and fome excellent pieces compofed for the occafion. A very elegant and fumptuous entertainment was afterwards given, in George Street Affembly Rooms, by the Lord Provoft and Magiftrates, to the Grand Mafter, the Members of the Grand Lodge, and others of the Brethren; and alfo to the Nobility, Gentry, and principal inhabitants of is city, for which purpose, cards of invitation, to the number of 500, were iffued. Upwards of 300 noblemen and gentlemen Vou.X. No. 60. M were prefent, and the whole was conduct. ed with the greateft regularity and order. This was the most numerous and bril. liant proceffion ever exhibited in this city. So numerous was the proceffion, that it extendedfrom the feite of the New College to theTron Church in a compact body. Nov. 23. A meeting of the Royal Phy fical Society was held at their hall in Hunter's Park, when the following gentlemen were elected Presidents for the enfuing year: Mr William Meade, of Cork, Ireland. Mr Robert Gray, of Fort-William, Mr George Spence, of the ifland of Mr Andrew Fyfe, Treasurer. At a meeting of the Royal Medical Society, held on Nov. 28 h, in their hall, in Surgeon's Square, the following gentlemen were elected annual Prefidents for the enfuing year: Francis Foulke, Etq; of Cork, Ireland. Jofeph Gahagan, Efq; of Dublin, Ire land. Mr T. Bradley, of Wor-] Mr W. M'Dougal, of St Mr Geo. Spence, of Ja maica, Mr J. Gahagan, of Balin afloe, Prefidents. Mr James Cunningham, Treasurer. Mr Charles Stewart, Secretary. A law-fuit was, fometime ago, commenced in the Court of Seffion by Mr James Stein, diftiler at Kilbagie, and the truflees for his creditors, against Mr Bo nar, Solicitor of Excife, for repetition of the L.500 Sterling, which came to be the fubject of a Jufticiary trial for bribery against Mr Stein, who was found not guilty by the verdict of the jury. This question first occurred before Lord Juftice Clerk, by whom Mi Bonarwas affoilzied: and a reclaiming petition and answers, having been on Friday advifed by the Court, their Lordships adhered to the judgment of the Lord Ordinary; fo that the property of this money is now found to remain with Mr Bonar, who lodged it in the Royal Bank, upwards of two years ago, for the purpofe of being applied to wards building a Bridewe H.-Counsel for the purfuere, the Dean of Faculty; agent, Mr Robert Bofwell, writer to the fignet. Counsel for Mr Bonar, the Lord Advocate; agent, Mr Robert Dundas, writer to the fignet. Dec. 4. Yesterday, at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Phyficians, for election of their office-bearers, the follow ing gentlemen were chofen into office for the enfuing year, viz. Dr Black, Prefillent. Dr Langlands, Cenfors. Dr Tho. Spens, Librarian. Mr Robert Bofwell, writer to the fig A correfpondent (Mr Moncrieff, at Briftol), fends us the following cure for the bite of a mad dog, which he fays is effectual. Wipe off the faliva with a dry cloth, and then wafh the wound with cold water, with the most unremitting attention for feveral hours. A continued fream, poured from a tea-kettle, held at a confiderable diftance, is peculiarly adapted to this purpose. After feveral hours application of the cold water, but agt foouer, warm water may be applied with safety and advantage. This appli cation fhould be made inftantly before the poifon has entered the fyftem. If the wound is deep, a furgeon fhould, after fhaving off the inflamed surface, cup, fyringe, and wash with double diligence. By this method of purification, every ar ticle of poifon will be effectually removed. Procurator Fifcal v. Mifs Burns. The cafe of Mifs Burns having for fome time past very much attracted the attention of the frequenters of the Par liament House, and afforded ample speculation to the citizens at large, it may naturally be expected, that we should give forde account of a business which has been confidered by many as of the higheft importance to the liberties of the fubject. On the morning of Thursday the 6th of Auguftlaft, one of the city officers left a citation at the house of Mifs Burns, in Rofe Street, New Town, requiring her to appear at one o'clock the fame day in the Council Chamber. She accordingly attended, when there was read over to her a complaint at the inftance of feveral of her neighbours, and of the P.ocurator Fifcal of the city, ftating, "That ince Whitfunday last, the, and a Mifs Sally Sanderfon, who were perfons of bad character, had kept a very irregular and diforderiy houfe, into which they ad mit and entertain licentious and profli gate perfons of both fexes, to the grea annoyance of the neighbourhood, and breach of the public peace: more particulary, that the company entertained by the frequently created great riots and difturbances in the houfe, and in the en try leading to it, by curfing, fwearing, and fighting together That these tu mults moft generally happened in the night time, whereby the private com plainers loft their night's reft, and were under continual apprehenfions and terror of fire happening, owing to the irregu larity and indecent behaviour that was carried on by them and their visitors: That befides this, the complainers were often troubled by finging and other improper behaviour going on within the houfe on the Sundays. The complaint concludes as follows: "From all which it must appear evident, that the faid defenders (i. e. Mifs Burns and Mifs Sanderfon) are a great nuisance in the neigh bourhood, and the public peace of the city is much difturbed: Therefore, the faid defenders ought and should be fined and and otherwise punished, as to their Honours fhould feem meet; and ought to be ordained, instantly to remove themfelves and families from faid houfe, in order to give relief to the private complainers, and to prevent all bad confequences that may happen by the faid defenders keeping fuch irregular and diforderly house in the neighbourhood." Upon hearing this complaint read, Mifs Burns judicially denied the fame, and figned a minute or declaration to that effect. The Bailies admitted the complaint to probation; allowed the defenders a joint proof, which was appointed to proceed next day at five o'clock afternoon. Four witneffes were examined upon the part of the profecutors; but it is alledged, that neither Mifs Burns, nor any perfon for her were prefent, except that after the firft witness had been examined, a Solicitor appeared for Mifs Burns, and objected to an improper queftion which had been put to the first witnefs, and proposed to be put to the fe .cond. After several other feps of procedure, fome of which were said to be irregular, but which, in the prefent narration, it is unneceflary particularly to mention, the Magiftrates pronounced the following interlocutor: The Bailies having confifidered the complaint, declarations of the defenders, interlocutors thereto fubjoined, proof adduced, and haill procedure, in refpect of the faid proof, banifh both and each of the faid, Margaret Burns, alias Matthews, and Sally Sanderson, forth of this city and liberties for ever; and if they, or either of them, fhall for ever hereafter be found therein, they will be apprehended and committed to the tolbooth, or houfe of correction, for fix months, drummed through the city on the fecond Wednefday after fuch defender fhall be fo apprehended, and, at the lapfe of her imprifonment, again for ever banish • ed?' Mifs Burns, on this fentence being intimated to her, prefented a bill of fufpenfion to the Lord Dreghorn, Ordinary, on the 1t of October, who pronounced the following interlocutor: To fee and anfwer against Tuesday next, and fifts ex⚫ecution till Tuesday thereafter, inclu five; and apppoints this bill to be intimated to the Procurator-fifcal of the City of Edinburgh, and appoints him to produce with his anfwers the proceedings within-mentioned.' The bill was followed with answers and replies, and on advifing the whole, Lord Ankerville, Ordinary, pronounced the following interlocutor: The Lord Ordinary having confidered this bill, with the answers, replies, and writs ' produced, refuses the bill.' Againft this judgment a reclaiming petition was prefented to the whole Lords, which was ordered to be answered; and, upon the 12th inftant, the follow ing interlocutor was pronounced: The Lords having refumed confideration of this petition, with the answers thereto on the part of the Procurator Fifcal of the City of Edinburgh, they, before anfwer, ordain the petitioner to give in a condefcendence of the particular facts The offers to prove, on or before the 17th current.' In place of a condefcendence, however, another well-drawn petition was prefented for Mifs Burns, in which it was ftated, that any proof upon her part would refolve into a proof of a negative propofition, viz. that he did not keep a diforderly houfe within the time libelled: That the proof of that propofition must neceffarily consist of two branches; Ift, The evidence of the inhabitants of the neighbouring houses in Rofe Street and Princes Street; 2dly, The evidence of perfons who had been in the petitioner's own house to know what fort of houfe fhe truly kept. Of those two claffes of witneffes, it was, from the nature of the thing, evident, that any proof to be offered on her part muft neceffarily confift; and the had no hesitation to fay, that, if required by their Lordships, he was ready, under the first clafs, to condefcend upon the names of the most refpectable inhabitants in Prince's Street, and in Rofe Street, by whom he could inftruct, that neither they, nor any member of their families, ever faw or heard any thing which could lead them to fuppofe or believe, that she kept a bawdy-houfe in their neighbourhood. In like manner, under the second clafs, he was ready to condescend upon the names of perfons refpectable in point of rank, or fituation, and of character, who have been in her hours, and who will fay, that it was not a diforderly houfe. But, although the could cally give in fuch a condefcendence, the was unwilling to do it, unless their Lordships, upon reconfidering the cafe, thould be of opinion, that it was abfolutely neceflary upon her part. She was aware, that in M 2 both |