sons in the boat, every one of whom perished.

Fire.-Yesterday morning the mansionhouse of Ballony, in the neighbourhood of Maybole, was burned to the ground. The fire had most probably originated on the second floor, and was first discovered about one o'clock by one of the tenants in the ground flat, by the flames coming down through the floor above him. He instantly gave the alarm to the other tenants, who escaped without injury; but the flames had by this time made such progress, and raged with such fatal rapidity, that all efforts to subdue them proved ineffectual, and it was with the greatest difficulty any part of the furniture was saved. About two o'clock the roof fell in, and by half-past three the house had become a complete ruin.

21. Large Whale.-An immense whale has been taken at Roundstone Bay, in Connemare, at Errisbeg, Ireland, the estate of Colonel Martin, M. P. It was observed on Sunday last by some people, who pursued him, and, as the tide was falling fast, he soon got on ground. In this state, weapons of various kinds were employed for his destruction, and, after considerable risk, the country people succeeded in destroying this monster of the deep. He proves to be of the spermaceti species, and is 72 feet long, 48 in girth round the body. One of his teeth was seen here, which weighs two pounds and a half. This fish produces three kinds of oil, which, together with the bone, are estimated to be worth L.600. Galway Advertiser.

24. Yesterday, Alexander Short was publicly whipped through the streets of Perth, by the common executioner, for returning from banishment, in violation of a sentence awarded against him by the Sheriff for theft.

Imitation Tea. This day a quantity of imitation tea, amounting to no less than 727 pounds, was discovered in a cellar in Byres's Close, Edinburgh, by Mr Mackenzie, supervisor, and Messrs Gorrie and Macleod, officers of Excise. This spurious mixture was contained in four boxes, and it is supposed that above 100 pounds of it has been disposed of, as one of the boxes was more empty than the others.

Monument to Thomson. This day the foundation-stone of the monument to be erected to the memory of James Thomson, the immortal author of the Seasons, was laid by the Right Worshipful Master, John Rutherford, of the Kelso St John's Lodge, assisted by numerous deputations from the Hawick, Jedburgh St John's and St Andrew's Lodges, the Beaumont, Tweed, and Galashiels Lodges, and a number of visiting members from other lodges. The brethren convened in the Town-hall, Kelso, at one o'clock, and walked from thence

in procession to the spot, accompanied by a band of music.

Emigration.-Extract of a letter from Argyleshire." The weather since Sunday the 20th has been uncommonly wet here. The emigration from this country is immense. When I passed Crinan a few days ago, a vessel named the Harmony had 275 passengers on board, and one called the Hope had about 250. The Speculation sailed also this week (June 20th) from Fort William, with between 200 and 205. They are all destined, I understand, for Quebec. From so many poor people being crammed together in one little vessel, their situation must be miserably uncomfortable. Though the great bulk of these poor Highlanders are in the most abject poverty, you will be surprised to learn that a good many of those who are going out were in fair circumstances; and it is supposed that the Harmony will carry in specie about L. 12,000. One man exchanged L. 1500 for gold and silver, for which I heard he paid 5 per cent."

Glasgow and Carlisle. The improvement of the road between these cities, which runs almost diagonally through the county of Dumfries, is going on rapidly, and will not only enhance the value of property of every description along the line, but will shorten the distance of the greater part of Dumfries-shire, from Carlisle and the north of England, about 4 miles. The operations of the newly laid out line between Graitney and Carlisle are now going on with spirit. The new bridge over the Esk, which for 70 years back has been contemplated, was founded about a month ago, and will be finished in June 1820; it will have two cast-iron arches, one of 150, and the other of 100 feet span. Another bridge will be built over the Sark, near Allison's Bank; it will have two stone arches, one of 40, and the other of 30 feet span. Several other improvements are making on roads in that part of the country.

28. Burgh Reform.-An order from the Parliamentary committee now sitting on the subject of a reform in the municipal government of the Scots burghs was recent, ly received by the Magistrates of Edinburgh, directing them to give certain persons belonging to the guildry, and other public bodies, petitioners to Parliament, access to the books of the burgh, that they might make such extracts from them as they might conceive it necessary to transmit to the committee in support of their petition. Upon advising this order, the Magistrates thought proper to refuse compliance; and last week a summons arrived for the Lord Provost, the Dean of Guild, the treasurer of Heriot's and Trinity Hos pitals, and the collectors of the cess in Edinburgh and shore-dues in Leith, requir

ing their personal attendance in London. These gentlemen, accordingly, left Edinburgh for that purpose to-day. Delegates from most of the public bodies complaining have been for some time in waiting upon the committee.

Royal Christening-Friday the 25th instant being the day appointed for the private christening of the infant Princess, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, preparations were made for the ceremony at Kensington Palace. The Royal gold font was removed from the Tower of London, and it was fitted up in the grand saloon, with crimson velvet coverings from the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of London. The infant Princess was named Alexandrina Victoria. The sponsors were his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, his Imperial Majesty the Emperor Alexander of all the Russias, who was represented as his Imperial Majesty's proxy by his Royal Highness the Duke of York; her Majesty the Queen Dowager of Wurtemberg, who was represented as her Majesty's proxy by her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta, and her Serene Highness the Duchess Dowager of Cobourg, who was represented as her proxy by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester.

The important appeal cause, respecting the old leases of Panmure and Brechin Castle, was decided on Friday last by the House of Lords in favour of the Hon. William Maule.

Dreadful Fire.—An alarming fire broke out on Saturday the 26th, in the printing office of Mr Bensley, in Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London. It happened to be the annual festival of the workmen, so that none of them were on the premises. The flames were first discovered by a female servant, who saw them issuing from the upper rooms. She communicated the circumstance to Mr Bensley, jun. who was in the counting-house; but such was the rapid progress of the devouring element, that nothing was saved, and the extensive building, as well as several contiguous houses, were either burnt down or seriously damaged. Mr Bensley, who was the first to apply the power of the steam engine to the printing press, is a printer of considerable reputation, and his loss has been proportionally great; including books which were printed, paper, type, and other materials, his loss is estimated at L. 40,000, and it is thought he is not insured for more than half this sum; another account states thé loss at L. 80,000, and the insurance at L. 30,000. There is no pretence for attributing the accident to the steam engine, which remains almost uninjured amidst the ruins.

Steam-Ship-The Savannah, a vessel

impelled by steam, of 315 tons burden, arrived at Liverpool on Sunday the 20th instant from Savannah in 25 days. The want of fuel protracted the voyage to that length, as it was calculated on her sailing that she would make the passage across the Atlantic in 15 days. Several days before her arrival the Kite revenue cutter on the Cork station chased the Savannah a whole day, going ten knots, supposing her to be a ship on fire, when at length perceiving the Kite in chace, she stopped her engine, till the latter came up.

High Court of Justiciary.-Trial for Murder.-On the 14th instant was brought to trial Peter Bowers, journeyman millwright in Haddington, charged with the murder of John Sandilands, day-labourer, or farm servant, to the Earl of Dalhousie, upon the 15th day of April last, by striking him on the head with an axe. It appeared in evidence, that some young men had been amusing themselves by leaping on the high-road opposite to Coalston tollbar, when they were joined by the prisoner and his master's son, who had been working in the neighbourhood, and after finishing their job, had regaled themselves with some gills of whisky at different publichouses until the prisoner was much intoxicated. The deceased was standing enjoying the amusement, when the prisoner said he would jump with any of them for twopence; and having lost his bet, refused to pay it, when some trifling altercation took place among the parties, and the deceased said, old as he was, (66,) he would either jump with him, or fight with him, for any thing he liked. Some high words then ensued between the prisoner and the deceased, the import or amount of which was not distinctly recollected by any of the witnesses present; but it ended in this, that the prisoner advanced towards the deceased, and struck him a blow on the head with an axe, which he then had on his shoulder, and inflicted a severe wound on his left temple, out of which part of the brain protruded. The Jury by a majority brought in a verdict of Guilty, but unanimously and earnestly recommended him to mercy, and the unfortunate man has since been respited by the Prince Regent for fourteen days.

Violating the Sepulchres of the Dead-On the 21st George Campbell, John Kerr, and George M'Laren, were tried on a charge of attempting to carry off a dead body from the church-yard of Prestonkirk, county of Haddington. The charge was clearly proved, witnesses having deponed to catching the prisoners in the act of digging a body from the grave; and after a severe admonition from the Lord Justice Clerk, in which his Lordship observed, that, had they completed the crime, they would have been visited with the heaviest arm of the law;

they were sentenced to one year's imprisonment in the jail of Edinburgh, and to find security for their after good conduct, under a penalty of L. 40 sterling each.

JULY.

Commercial Distresses and Political Meetings. In our last number we adverted to the resolutions of the Carlisle weavers, who, in common with other workmen employed in the manufacturing districts, have been suffering grievous privations in consequence of the late general stagnation of trade. We are sorry to observe that the extensive distress felt in the manufacturing districts has at length resolved itself into political discontent. In the course of last month, numerous meetings of the labouring classes, a large proportion of which are out of employment, or unable to earn sufficient to sustain themselves and families, have taken place at Glasgow, Leeds, and some of the manufacturing towns of Lancashire, at which the subject of discussion is no longer the means of obtaining relief for their present wants, but a radical reform in the system of representation. At these large and important towns, the number of persons assembled has averaged from 10,000 to 15,000; at all the meetings a large portion of ardour and ignorance has been displayed by the speakers. The attractive doctrine of annual parliaments and universal suffrage has been adopted, and resolutions embodying that doctrine have been proposed and carried with loud acclamations. These meetings have as yet been conducted with some appearance of decorum, and no symptom of riot or turbulence has appeared. A regular continuance and re-appointment of them, however, are liable to very serious objections, from the opportunities they afford to violent and designing men, to disseminate principles of the worst nature, and to effect the most treacherous purposes, under the mask of simple and honest zeal. At one of these meetings, held at Stockport, a Sir Charles Wolseley, said to be of an ancient family of Staffordshire, was in the chair, and addressed the multitude in language the most violent and inflammatory, stating, that, among the feats of his youth, he had mounted the walls and assisted in pulling down the Bastile in France; and that he was ready to do as much for those of his own country. Lords Castlereagh and Sidmouth were stigmatized with the epithets of traitors; and the multitude were encouraged to take into their own hands the redress of their grievances, and the reform of the existing government. Justly alarmed that these meetings may generate tumult, violence, and sedition, the government of the country, we understand, have sent circulars to the LordsLieutenants of the different counties, inculcating a strict watch over the peace of the districts under their charge, and their

being prepared to put down the first appearance of any thing like a disposition to disturb the internal tranquillity of the county.

Caledonian Canal. By the sixteenth report of the commissioners given in to Parliament, it appears that the expenditure upon this most important national work, from May 1818 to May 1819, amounted to L.47,000; that the whole expenditure, from the commencement to May 1819, a mounted to L.742,000; that a moiety of the Parliamentary grant of last year, L.25,000, has not yet been issued from the Exchequer; and a farther grant of L.50,000 has been voted in this session of Parliament. It appears likely that this great work will be completed in the course of the two next years. The navigation from Inverness toFort Augustus is already open; and there is a near prospect, at the other end of the canal, of a similar approach towards the completion of the navigation from sea to

sea.

It appears from an inquiry, that a proportion of about 59 in 60 of the workmen employed on the canal have been Highlanders.

Burgess Oath-The Magistrates and Council of the Burgh of Rutherglen, at their meeting upon the 29th ult., unanimously resolved that an oath ought not to be required from any person at becoming a burgess; and that the oath which hitherto has been required is altogether unnecessary, and in many respects improper ; and they therefore enacted, that in future an applicant shall be admitted a freeman, burgess, and guild brother of the burgh, without any oath, upon payment of the freedom fine, and upon becoming bound to perform all the civil duties and obligations incumbent upon a burgess and guild brother.

6. Explosion of the Boiler of a SteamBoat. A serious accident of this nature happened yesterday afternoon at Grangemouth. The steam-boat Stirling Castle was preparing to start from the harbour for Newhaven, when, in consequence of the safety valve not being opened sufficiently to allow the escape of the accumulating steam, the boiler exploded, and nine persons were more or less scalded, three of them severely; but although a number of passengers were on board, and many people on the wharf, no lives were lost.

Revenue. The account of our revenue for the last quarter, and for the last year, which has been made up to the 5th July, considering the general commercial distress which prevails in the country, presents more favourable results than we could reasonably have anticipated. The excess of revenue for the year ending July 5, 1819, compared with the corresponding quarter of the year 1818, amounts to L.422,893, and the excess for the whole year is L.2,265,363.

CAP. I. An act to provide for the care of his Majesty's Royal Person during the continuance of his Majesty's illness.—Feb. 12.

Cap. II. An act for reviving and further continuing, until the 1st day of May 1819, an act made in the 51st year of his present Majesty, intituled, An act to extend an act made in the 18th year of his late Majesty King George the Second, to explain and amend the laws touching the elections of the knights of the shire to serve in Parliament for England, respecting the expences of hustings and poll clerks, so far as regards the city of Westminster. Feb. 12.

Cap. III. An act for continuing to his Majesty certain duties on malt, sugar, tobacco, and snuff, in Great Britain, and on pensions, offices, and personal estates in

LONDON.

Drury-Lane.-Drury-Lane closed on Tuesday June 8th. A meeting of the proprietors took place on the preceding Saturday, when it appeared that the debt of the House had been augmented from L. 84,000 to L. 90,000 during this experimental season. Various plans of redemptionary finance were mentioned, and a committee appointed to receive tenders for renting the theatre. Among the aspirants to this dubious speculation, Messrs Arnold and Kean were particularly specified, and other reports speak of Elliston, of a Company of performers, of an Association of Monied-men, &c. &c. As yet Mr Kean's has been the most distinct bidding, viz. L. 8000 per ann.-Lit. Gaz.

Covent Garden.-On Wednesday June 9th, Mrs Siddons performed Lady Randolph in Douglas, for the benefit of her relatives, Mr and Mrs Charles Kemble; the attraction was irresistible, and the house was crowded to excess with a brilliant audience.-Lit. Gaz.

English Opera House. At Home. Mr. Mathews closed his prosperous career on Saturday June 5th, and took leave in an address, thanking the public for past favours, promising novelty for next season, and lustily defending his profession as imitation not mimicry. We shall not quarrel about names, but he is a most delectable mimic for all that, and a very fountain spring of laughable entertainment, whose overflowings of humour and of audiences we shall be very glad to witness again.

This theatre opened again on Monday June 14th, with Lionel and Clarissa.-Lit. Gaz.

Haymarket Theatre has opened with the Drury-Lane Company. It is managed by a Committee, consisting of Messrs Munden, Rae, Holland, and Russell: the higher performers incur the risk, and the inferior orders are to be provided for by tolerable salaries. On these, of course, many families depend for bread. But it will not, we think, be less productive to those at the head of it. We trust it will add to their fortunes; we are certain it will add to their dramatic fame, and to their private reputation with a discerning public.-Lit. Gaz.

The Surrey Theatre pursues a course of uncommon and excellent variety. Florence Macarthy has become a decided favourite; and a new piece has been produced, called a comic divertisement, with "entirely new Comic, Pathetic, Historic, Anachronasma-. tic, Ethic, Epic Melange,

"Full of doleful mirth and right merrie conceit." It is entitled, Melodrame Mad! or, The

Siege of Troy. It is a jeu d'esprit in Mr Dibdin's best manner, and, we need scarcely add, full of whim and drollery.--Lit. Gaz.

EDINBURGH.

The Theatre-Royal opened here for the Summer on the 21st of June, with Mrs Alsop from Drury-Lane. This lady fills the same cast of characters as Miss Kelly, though in many of the parts she seems inferior to her predecessor. She performed twelve nights to very poor houses indeed; for it would require attractions of the very first order to induce one to prefer the tainted atmosphere of a theatre to the fresh breezes and the exhilarating prospects of the country at this season. Mr Knight, also of Drury-Lane, followed Mrs Alsop, and walked his week upon our stage, to nearly empty benches. We are sorry that this gentleman had not appeared at another time, when a fuller attendance might have done justice to his merits, which, in country bumpkins and characters of that description, are of the first order.

Mr William Macready, a tragedian from Covent-Garden, succeeded Mr Knight, on the 12th July. He made his first appearance in Orestes, in the Distress'd Mother, which he performed in a very able manner, and he was excellently supported in the part by Mrs H. Siddons and Mrs Renaud in Hermione and Andromache.

We omitted to notice, some months ago, the establishment of a Theatrical Fund in this city. The Edinburgh Theatrical Fund was established on the 2d April 1819, under a most respectable patronage; and in the printed address to the public, its object is declared to be to "afford relief and support to such Actors and Actresses, who being, or having been engaged in the Theatre-Royal, Edinburgh, and, during such engagement, regularly proposed and accepted as members of the said fund, shall be come incapacitated by age or infirmity from continuing the exercise of their profession.

"To carry these intentions into effect, it is calculated that the weekly and annual subscriptions of the performers, with the liberal aid promised by the proprietor of the theatre, assisted by immediate or future donations, annual subscriptions from the patrons and well-wishers to the Institution, occasional benefits, and such other means as may appear to the Directors best calculated to promote the interest of the fund, and meet the approval of its supporters, will, in the space of seven years, accumulate a capital, the interest of which, aided by the contributions of each future year, will afford a sufficient sum to shield such claimants as may then require assistance from that misery and distress which has too frequently en