2 were the subject of the overture:-"If we were not speaking of the venerable Assembly, we should certainly denounce such a measure as iniquitous, cruel, and tyrannical in the extreme. As to the drivellers who supported it by their votes, we think them vastly silly, and not a little malignant; but as to those who conceived and proposed it, we have not words to express the terror that we should feel if they were invested with that power in the state which they have most unaccountably acquired in the church. Of those who will sit in the capacity of judges, and after spending a day in prayer to the God of righteousness for light and direction, deliberately and coolly condemn any man, or body of men, who have not been permitted to appear in their own behalf-we will venture to say that there is no injustice and no mischief of which they are not capable." Dr Bryce having addressed the Assembly on the subject, Dr Nicoll then read the following motion :-"That, whereas the language brought under the review of the Assembly by this overture, and contained in Number CXI. of the above publication, (The Christian Instructor,) is, in the opinion of this Assembly, highly calumnious, calculated to injure the character of many Ministers and Elders of this Church, who were members of the last General Assembly, and to vilify and degrade the Supreme Judicatory of the Church in the estimation of the country. The Assembly, therefore, remit the matter to the Procurator, who is hereby instructed and enjoined to take such steps as may appear to him to be competent and expedient for correcting the present, and preventing the repetition of similar offences; and, if any difficulty shall occur in carrying this into effect, the Procurator is far. ther instructed to apply for advice and direction to any of the stated meetings of the Commission; and the Assembly hereby authorize the Commission to receive any report made by the Procurator, to give di rections, and finally to decide in this matter as they shall see cause."-Dr Irvine seconded the motion. Mr Brown of Langton, in a speech of some length, opposed Dr Nicoll's motion, and concluded by proposing the following, as containing the sense of the Assembly "The General Assembly, having considered the overture, and the particular expressions quoted therein from The Christian instructor, as requiring the animadversion of the Assembly, Find, that the said expressions are not only highly exceptionable and indecorous, but most injurious and disrespectful to the last General Assembly, and this Assembly think it their duty to express their marked disapprobation of language so improperly applied to the decisions of the Supreme Judicatory of the 613 Church. But the General Assembly haying duly considered, and deliberated on the thus solemnly declared their high disapmatter set forth in the overture, and having probation of the above passages in the said publication, do not find it expedient to make this overture the ground of any further procedure, and therefore dismiss the same." This motion was seconded by Dr Lockhart Dr Cook of Lawrencekirk, Mr WightMr James Gibson, W. S. Mr Milne of man of Kirkmahoe, Mr Horne, advocate, Dollar, Mr Tawse, Dr Macfarlane, Mr James Moncreiff, advocate, Principal Taylor, and Mr Andrew Thomson, delivered their sentiments on the question, and many of them at considerable length; after which Dr Bryce replied. Upon the vote being called, there appeared, for the first majority in favour of the first, 1. motion, 83--for the second motion, 82- John Brown entered his dissent in his own Which judgment being declared, Dr name and that of all others who might adhere to him, to which the following mem bers added their dissent :-Mr Thomas John Lockhart, Mr Andrew Thomson, Mr Maitland, Mr Alexander Fleming, Dr Daniel Kelly, Mr Andrew Rutherford, Mr George Brewster, Mr James Gibson, Dr Robert Colvin, Mr James French, Dr An. drew Stewart, Mr Robert Doig, Mr David Murray, Mr James Sievwright, Mr Archibald Lawson, Mr James Grant, Mr Wm. Paul, Mr John Fraser, Mr Horatius Cannan, Mr George Lyon, Mr Robert M⭑Nair, Mr Ebenezer Bradshaw Wallace, Mr George Ross, Dr William Brown, Mr John Robertson, and Mr James Moncreiff. ed of in the usual manner, his Grace the ed to meet on Thursday the 17th May, JUNE. This event, which now engrosses the atten14. Arrival of the Queen in England. tion of all ranks throughout the united kingdom, took place on Monday the 4th of four years and ten months, landed at instant, when her Majesty, after an absence Dover from the Continent. This resolution, time known by the King and his govern, on the part of her Majesty, being for some ment, Lord Hutchinson was dispatched to the Continent to make certain propositions to her, in order, if possible, to prevent her coming to Britain. That nobleman, accordingly, met her Majesty at St Omer's, in France, where, after being introduced, and stating the object of his mission, he, through her Majesty's Attorney-general, Mr Brougham, delivered in writing the terms he had been instructed to propose on behalf of the King. These were in substance, that the Queen should receive an annuity of L. 50,000, on condition that she should not assume the style and title of Queen of England, or any title attached to the royal family of Britain, and that she should not reside in any part of the united kingdom, nor even visit England. These humiliating proposals her Majesty immediately and indignantly rejected; ordered her carriages, and drove off for Calais, from whence she embarked, and landed at Dover, as already stated. There, and everywhere on her journey to London, as well as in that city, she was received with most enthusiastic acclamations by the people. The inhabitants and corporations, in some of the towns through which she passed, offered addresses of congratulation; and the people took her horses from the carriage, and drew her in triumph through the streets. At St Omer's her Majesty had written to the Earl of Liverpool, requesting a house to be prepared for her, and to Lord Melville, for a royal yacht to bring her to Britain; but neither of these requests being complied with, her Majesty crossed the Channel in one of the packets, and, on her arrival in London on Tuesday evening, she took up her residence in the house of Alderman Wood, in South Audley Street, who had accompanied her from the Conti nent. On the evening of the Queen's arrival, his Majesty sent the following message to both Houses of Parliament: "The King thinks it necessary, in consequence of the arrival of the Queen, to communicate to the House of Lords [Commons] certain papers respecting the conduct of her Majesty since her departure from this country, which he recommends to the immediate and serious attention of the House. The King has felt the most anxious desire to avert the necessity of a discussion, which must be most painful to his people as well as to himself; but the step taken by the Queen leaves him no alternative. The King therefore feels, in consequence of this communication, the utmost confidence that the House of Lords will adopt that course of proceeding which the justice of the case and the honour and the dignity of the Crown will require." Next day, the Queen sent the following communication to the House of Commons: "The Queen thinks it necessary to inform the House of Commons, that she has been induced to return to England by the insidious measures which have been practised abroad against her honour and her peace, and which have lately been connived at by the Government of this country; and farther, by an anxious desire to defend her character and those rights which have devolved upon her by the death of his late Majesty, in whose countenance and protection she always felt secure. "Her Majesty sees with surprise that the attention of the House has been called to certain papers relative to her conduct abroad, and still more surprised to observe, that it is in contemplation to refer these papers to a secret committee. It is now fourteen years, from this day, since the first charges were brought against her, and her Majesty at that period declared that she was then, as she is at this moment, ready to meet any accusations. But her Majesty claims an open investigationclaims to see the charges, and to meet the witnesses-a mode of trial which is not denied to the meanest subject; in the face of Parliament and the country, she protests against an examination before a se cret tribunal, which is a course of proceeding unknown to the judicature of this free country. "Her Majesty relies with the utmost confidence upon the support of the House of Commons to defeat the machinations directed against her. The treatment she has already experienced has notoriously prejudged her case, by the omission of her name in the Liturgy, the refusal of a conveyance to England, and of a residence to which she is entitled. These grievances, together with the studied slights of secret agents abroad, and the open insults of foreign Governments, she submits to their consideration." In both houses thanks were voted, as customary, to the King for his gracious message, and ministers proposed that the papers accompanying it should be referred to secret committees, to report what farther steps should be taken in the case. In the House of Lords it was agreed to without a division and with little discussion; but in the Commons the general feeling seemed to be, that it would be expedient, if pos sible, to quash such a painful discussion; and in order, if it was yet possible, to allow time for the parties to come to an arrangement, Mr Wilberforce, on Wednesday the 7th, moved that the debate on the motion should be adjourned to Friday, which was unanimously agreed to. On that day, on the motion of Lord Castlereagh, it was fatther postponed till Monday, in conse quence of the following communication, which had been received from the Queen late on Friday: "The Queen, in compliance with the advice of her counsel, and of several members of the House of Com mons, thinks it proper to inform Lord Liverpool, that she is ready to receive any proposition that is consistent with her honour, which his lordship may be dis posed to make on the part of his Majesty's government." APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS, &c. I. CIVIL. May 17.-Honour of Knighthood conferred on F. M. Ommanney, Esq. M. P., and on Charles Grey, Esq. one of the Judges at Madras. 18.-Charles George Young, Esq. promoted to the office of York Herald. 22. The Marquis of Tweeddale invested with the insignia of the Order of the Thistle. 23. Sir Charles Bagot, G. C. B. to be Ambassador at the Court of Petersburgh. 24. Dr James Gregory, to be First Physician to his Majesty in Scotland. 21 2d Lieut. Lonsdale, 1st Lieut. 27th Apr. 1820. G. O. King, 2d Lieut. do. 35 Lieut. Johnstone, Capt. by purch. vice Spratt, 8 F. Moody, prom. W. Sitwell, Ensign by purch. Lieut. Davis, fm. h. p. 19 F. Lieut. vice 27th do. Ensign Cocker, Lieut. by purch. vice G. Graham, Ensign by purch. C. M. Hay, Ensign by purch. do. do. 20th do. Surg. vice 27th Jan. Lieut. Price, Capt. vice Baxter, 3 Vet. B. Ensign Bourchier, to be Lieut. Ensign Stewart, Lieut. vice Shea, dead 27th April. do. do. 4th May. 43 54 57 B. Daveney, Ensign 58 G. Stirling, Ensign 59 Ensign Griffiths, Lieut. W. Douglas, Ensign E. T. Drake, Cornet by purch. Cornet Lambard, Lieut. by purch. 5 D. G. Lieut. Byron, Capt. by purch. vice Brad- 20th do. Lieut. Stewart, Capt. vice Ross, prom. Ensign Paton, Lieut. G. W. M. Lovett, Ensign R. Br. M. Gen. Sir Edw. Barnes, K. C. B. Colo13th May. nel, vice Walker, 84 F. Gent. Cadet Hon. J. Amherst, fm. R. Mil. Coll. 2d Lieut. by purch. vice Drury, 8 F. 4th do. 2 W. I. R. Lieut. Ricketts, Capt. vice Appleton, 8 R. Vet. B. 72 81 Ensign Sweeny, fm. h. p. 95 F. Ensign, vice Weyranch, 1 Vet. B. Ensign M'Pherson, Lieut. vice Greene, 11th May 1820. 1st Sept. 1819. du. Hosp. Ass. R. Knox, M.D. Ass. Surg. vice Hamilton, prom. 51 F. 20th April 1820. M. Gen. Sir G. T. Walker, G. C. B. fin. Rifle Brig. Colonel, vice Gen. Bernard, 13th May. dead Ensign Wyse, Lieut. vice Statham, dead 11 20th Apr. Lieut. Micklethwaite, Adj. vice Griffith, res. Adj. only and Lieut. 20th do. 11th May. Ander Ordnance Department. Cornet Sober, Lieut. by purch. do. do. R. Art. Lieut. Gen. Willington, Col. Comm. vice Gent. Cadet J. W. S. Smith, fm. R. Mil. 15th March. 21st Apr. Coll. Cornet by purch. do. Lieut. Hon. C. Petre, Capt. by purch. do. 3d May 4th do. vice Dowson, ret. Cornet Gage, Lieut. by purch. T. D. E. Burroughs, Cornet by purch. do. G. A. Stewart, Cornet by purch. 11th do. Lieut. Kent, Capt. vice Lecky, dead ners, ret. Brev. Col. Harris, Colonel 2d Capt. Oldham, fm. h. p. 2d Capt. vice do. 1st Lieut. Chapman, 2d Captain 21st do. 22d do. Wright, 2d Captain 2d Capt. Romer, from h. p. 2d Capt. do. 1st Lieut. Pickard, from h. p. 1st Lieut. do. vice Shaw, h. p. 21st do. 2d Lieut. Goode, 1st Lieut. 1st Lieut. Greenwood, from h. p. 1st do. Lieut. Morgan, from h. p. 1st Lieut. 2d Lieut. Gostling, 1st Lieut. Knowles, from h. p. 18 21 22 8 F. 29th Sept. 1819. Reg. Serj. Maj. J. Dixon, Adj. and Cor13th Oct. net, vice Williams, 59 F. Cornet Parlby, Lieut. vice Rogers, dead 3d do. C. J. Bergner, Cornet by purch. vice Ber20th April 1820. 2d Lieut. Drury, fm. Rifle Brig. Adj. and do. Lieut. vice Price, res. Adj. only Lieut. Spratt, fm. 30 F. Lieut. více Price, 27th do. h. p. 19 F. 22d do. Hon. G. A. Browne, Ensign by purch. vice Cooke, ret. do. do. 2d Lieut. Capt. Broomfield, Major by purch. vice Thomas, ret. 21st do. 20th do. -21 Lieut. Thurlow, Capt. by purch. do. Licut. Carr, Capt. vice Moray, dead 27th do. do. 22d do. do. Med. Dep. Assist. Surg. Dix, from h. p. Assist. do. Surg. Assit. Surg. 10th Mar. Dempster, from h. p. do. Hosp. Mate J. F. Pink, Assist. Surg. vice Ludlow, dead 27th Ap. Poole, from h. p. 2d Lieut. Chap. Dep. Rev. W. C. Frith, from h. p. Chap-. lain to the Forces, vice Curtois, h. p. Exchanges. Bt. Lt. Col. Radcliffe, fm. 1 Dr. rec. diff. between Capt. Groombridge, fm. 63 F. with Bt. Maj. Mac- Dr. Gregorie, fm. 13 Dr. with Capt. Taylor, 22 Latham, fm. 3 F. rec. diff. with Capt. Sutherland, h. p. Port. Serv. Macdonald, fin. 12 F. rec. diff. with Capt. Read, h. p. Parr, fm. 45 F. with Capt. Moore, h. p. 4 F. Bunworth, fm. 88 F. rec. diff. with Capt. Goldie, h. p. 22 Dr. Hunter, fm. 3 Dr. rec. diff. with Capt. Greville, h. p. 25 Dr. Fowke, fm. 14 Dr. rec. diff. Barrett, h. p. 23 Dr. Johnson, fm. 23 F. rec. diff. Sir W. Crosbie, h. p. 7 Dr. with Capt. with Capt. Baker, fm. 30 F. with Capt. Mann, h. p. 57 F. Pinckney, fm. 68 F. with Capt. Parker, h. p. York Chass. Lieut. Chambers, fm. 11 Dr. with Licut. Boys, 21 Dr. Griffith, fm. 12 Dr. rec. diff. with Lieut. Logan, h. p. 79 F. Ryan, fm. 13 Dr. with Lieut. Bebb, 22 Dr. Williams, fm. 21 Dr. with Lt. Hogan, 59 F. Pieters. fm. 1 F. with Lieut. Scott, h. p. King, fm. 7 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Davies, h. p. Ricketts, fm. 62 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Singleton, h. p. 44 F. Hodson, fm. 4 Dr. G. with Lieut. Makepeace, 51 F. M'Duffie, fm. 18 Di. rec. diff. with Lieut. Walker, h. p. 40 F. Gale, fin. 10 Dr. with Lieut. Lord Cecil, 11 Dr. Bradford, from 86 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Dolman, h. p. 46 F. Sinclair, fm. 92 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Giffard, h. p. 95 F. Butterworth, fm. 32 F. rec. diff. with Lt. Cornet Jones, fm. 2 Dr. G. rec. diff. with Cornet Ensign Home, fm. 1 F. with Ensign Butt, h. p. Kennett, fm. 11 F. with Ensign Brown, h. p. 4 W. I. R. Mansell, fm. 92 F. with Ensign Deans, h. p. 79 F. Alterations and Additions. Assist. Surg. Cleland, fm. 1 Dr. with Assist. Surg. 5 Dr. Gds. Capt. Stracey, from 25 F. to be Capt. M'Clintock, h. p. 32 F. Resignations and Retirements. 2 Dr. vice Stewart, exch. 18th May 1820. L. Mackenzie, from h. p. 92 F. Capt. vice Cathcart, exch. rec. diff. between Full-pay Troop, and Fullpay Company only do. Taylor, R. Horse G. Shawe, do. Lieut. Cradock, 43 F. Bradshaw, 5 Dr. G. Cornet Long, R. Horse G. Berners, 22 Dr. Akers, 18 Dr. Ensign Cooke, 15 F. 4 F. Serj. Maj. Kelly, Adj. and Ensign, vice Graham, res. Adj. only do. Capt. Stewart, from 3 Dr. Gds. vice Capt. Stracey, exch. do. 60 Lieut. Muller, to be Capt. vice Bowers, Qua. Mast. Clarke, from h. p. R. York Ensign Rainsford, from h. p. 66 F. do. 2 W. I. R. Capt. Gell, from h. p. 95 F. Capt. vice M'Intyre, 2 Vet. Bn. do. Med. Dep. Inspector Hume, from h. p. Inspector 27th Apr. 61 do. 72 83 THE excessive drought which prevailed throughout the spring months has been followed by frequent and heavy rains. On the 17th and 18th May the quantity that fell amounted to something more than two inches, and since that period the weather has been uncommonly moist, with little sunshine. The temperature has been as high as might be expected, though frequently cooled near the earth's surface by the evaporation which succeeded every shower. The mercury in the thermometer since our last has ranged between 52o and 64°, by observations taken at nine in the morning, the mean temperature at that hour being 544° nearly. The rains, in the first instance, brought on a luxuriance of vegetation, but the crops on retentive soils now indicate excess of moisture at the root. Wheat in general is a most luxuriant crop, and is in danger, from its weight and thickness, of being lodged. Oats for the most part plant thick, and stock freely. The late rains have completely destroyed the grub, so that now no danger is to be apprehended from that enemy; but on light, and also on tenacious scils, early sown oats have a yellowish appearance. Barley and flax look rather sickly, but these unfavourable appearances would soon be removed by warm sunshine. The heavy and washing rains have fallen at a very unfortunate period for late varieties of apples, or fruit trees in late situations. Such rains, when the anther is discharging the pollen, are always more to be dreaded than even slight dry frost. Pears, being set before the rains, will be an abundant crop. The weather has been unfavourable for cleaning fallow and turnip grounds. Potatoes come up slowly, and on wet lands are partially rotted. Hay promises to be a weighty crop, and pasture grass has improved considerably. In the price of cattle and grain there has been little variation since our last.-10th June. We noticed that vegetation was about six days farther advanced on the 10th May than it had been at that period last season. The frequent rains that have fallen since the middle of May have produced luxuriant foliage, and elongated the stems of plants, without bringing them suddenly into flower, so that, by the 1st of the present month, vegetation was in the same stage of progress as at the commencement of June last year. From the above table, it will appear that water-plants continue to hold six or eight days earlier than last season. It may be remarked, too, that lofty ash trees were in leaf this year on the 27th May, nearly two weeks earlier than last season; this, compared with the relative progress of low growing plants, affords a proof that the air was more cold near the earth's surface, by the continued evaporation, than it was in the higher regions.-Perthshire, 10th June 1820. VOL. VI. 4 D |