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PROXY.
Lord Belhaven to the Earl of Wemyss and March.
There were also 37 signed lists from peers.
A signed list was sent by Lord Saltoun, but was rejected by the returning clerks, as not being properly sealed.
After the votes were called, the Marquis of Lothian was declared duly elected; there being for
The Marquis of Lothian 33
The Marquis of Tweeddale 18
Majority. 15
The Marquis of Lothian, after the election, rose and addressed the peers in nearly the following words: "My Lords, I rise to thank you for the honour you have done me, and I trust I shall always be found to act worthy of that honour. Had it been otherwise, I should have had the satisfaction to strike my colours to a noble hero, who had bravely fought and bled in the cause of his country."
The votes of the Earls of Findlater and Marchmont were taken by the clerks, although neither of these titles have been allowed by the House of Lords.
The proceedings were opened by a most appropriate and impressive prayer, by the Rev. Dr John Inglis, one of the ministers of the Old Greyfriars' Church, and one of the deans of the Chapel Royal.
Their Lordships were attended by Colin Mackenzie and David Hume, Esqrs. two of the principal clerks of Session, in virtue of a commission from the Lord Clerk Register, the Magistrates of Edinburgh, Mr Halkerston, bailie of the Abbey, and other officers.
The election was attended by the most numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen we ever witnessed on a similar occasion.
New Chapel.—On Sunday the 13th inst. the new Episcopal chapel at Dumfries was consecrated by the Right Reverend Bishop Sandford, from Edinburgh; after which he delivered a most excellent sermon to a crowded and select audience.
19.—Silk Gauze.—In the present depressed state of weavers' wages, it is gratifying to learn, that the beautiful manufacture of silk gauze has, after a suspension of thirty years, been revived, with every prospect of success, in Paisley. Many looms are already employed, and there is little doubt that the number will rapidly increase. It forms a splendid dress; and, as it can be brought forward at a cheap price, the use of it promises to be general, in spite of the injury which it sustains by washing.
21.—Provisions for Ireland.—We have known, for sometime past, that government were anxious to procure supplies of wheat, and other articles of provision, for the consumption and use of Ireland; but lest the dealers should avail themselves of the knowledge of the fact to raise the price of grain, &c. we remained silent on the subject. We now feel ourselves at liberty to state, that Ireland was destitue of wheat for the purposes of seed; and what may appear singular, also of a sufficient quantity of potatoes. Of the former article, abundant supplies have been procured from the Baltic, and from various quarters in Germany; and from this stock, Ireland has been supplied with all she required. Shipments of wheat and potatoes have also been made up from England for the sister kingdom.
Saving Banks.—We find these institutions gaining ground everywhere, and that during a period in which such an effect was not perhaps to be expected. We instance one among many the Hertfordshire bank. The annual meeting was holden at the Shirehall, Hertford, on Tuesday, the 8th instant, when the following statement of its accounts was laid before them by the managing committee:
Total amount of deposites received between the 50th March 1816, and 30th March 1817, L. 3994 3 3
Belonging to Labourers, L. 1053 9 0
Servant, 995 6 0
Tradesmen, 527 2 0
Children, 251 3 6
In trust for children & others 313 0 0
Belonging to various persons 860 13 6
Returned to depositors 193 9 3
3994 3 3
Stock purchased 6223 15 3
Returned to depositors 278 0 0
Balance L. 5945 15 3
The merit of these banks is, that their use may be understood at one glance by the meanest capacity; that they require no laborious calculations, no nice arguments, to prove their advantage. They are institutions by which industry may, at an easy rate, provide for the wants of families, for furnishing cottages, for stocking small farms, for providing against sickness, against unexpected distress, against bad seasons, for furnishing resources to prevent age from being burdensome to relations, to enable all pessons to pass the last period of their lives in quiet, and to have that pause, which all should have, between active labour and the grave.
Horrible Event.—Murder of Captain Miller, late paymaster and agent to the Stafford militia, and suicide of Lieutenant Fleming:
Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr Gale, dated April 13, 1817.
Pray call immediately on the friends of Captain Miller, and inform them of the fatal accident here-under related: Poor Captain Miller, it seems, arrived yesterday by the subscription coach, at the Heathfield Arms, near the Madhouse at Fivehead, where I visit as a magistrate. This morning he visited his old friend, Lieutenant Fleming, at Fivehead-house, where they dined together in the most friendly manner, retired soon after to Mr Fleming's bedroom, and in less than a quarter of an hour the explosion of pistols was heard, and