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practicable means for effecting its abolition, were unanimously agreed to. We are informed, that a memorial was also ordered to be presented to the magistrates and council, inclosing the resolutions of the meeting, and soliciting their co-operation; and the known character of some of those gentlemen, and the liberality and independence they have frequently displayed, lead us to hope they will experience much pleasure in aiding any attempt to restore their just rights to their fellow-citizens.
On Monday se'ennight, the Incorporation of Hammermen of this city voted £50 out of their funds, in aid of the measures which may be taken by the public bodies to obtain an alteration in the set of the burgh.
On Tuesday last, the Incorporation of Hammermen, Masons, and Barbers, of Glasgow, met in the Trades' Hall there, and passed temperate but decided resolutions in favour of a new set of the burgh.
Convention of Royal Burghs.—We should but ill discharge our duty to the public, if we did not thus early direct their attention to this subject. It is unnecessary for us to dwell on the importance of the topics which must unavoidably be agitated in the Convention this year; and our readers cannot but know what a mighty accession would be gained, if a majority in that body were to become its supporters. The supporters of the established order of things are aware of this, and are already on the alert. Every means will assuredly be made use of to obtain a majority, and it will require the utmost efforts to defeat their exertions. Such efforts will, we trust, be made. We trust that every burgh will do its duty on this occasion. They ought, above all, to be extremely cautious of prematurely engaging their votes. The meeting of the Convention this year will not be a matter of mere routine, wound up with a good dinner. Its discussions must embrace subjects intimately affecting the best interests of a very great proportion of the inhabitants of Scotland. No feelings of a local nature should be suffered to interfere in the choice of a delegate. This is not a time for stupid compliments of that kind. The inherent rights of the burgesses of Scotland are at stake; and none but men of approved character, and of the most independent principles, should be selected to discharge this important trust.—Edinburgh Weekly Journal.
A subscription is now raising, in shares of £25, for building an elegant Coffee-Room and Hotel in Waterloo Place, to cost £20,000.
The late Marquis of Abercorn Was the head of the house of Hamilton, being descended from Lord Claud Hamilton, third son of the first Duke of Chattelherault; the present Duke of Hamilton being descended from the house of Douglas, and became Duke in right of Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, in her own right, daughter of James, first Duke of Hamilton, and Earl of Cambridge, K.G. The first title was granted to his issue, male and female, and on their failure, to heirs general, by reason of their near affinity to the throne, which, on the death of the late Duke of Hamilton, caused an inquiry to be instituted as to heirs general, and it was discovered that an Act of Parliament had passed to unite the Dukedoms of Hamilton and Brandon in the male line, as long as it continued, otherwise the Hamilton title would have been vested in the female, and the Brandon in the male. The French Dukedom of Chattelherault decidedly descends to the female, the patent being granted to heirs general.—London Paper.
10.—On the evening of the 7th instant, a battle or fight took place on board his Majesty's frigate Ister, lying at present in Leith Roads, between John Simpsen and James Cunningham, two of the seamen; in the course of which, after fighting for a considerable time, Cunningham fell, and died instantaneously. He was a fine looking young man, about 22 years of age, very tall and able-bodied. Simpson is a little man, upwards of 40. They had formerly lived together on the best terms, but were intoxicated at the time. Simpson was a good deal more so than the deceased. Simpson was afterwards brought on shore, and a precognition regarding the whole affair was taken before the Magistrates of Leith. The body of the deceased was also brought on shore, and inspected by three medical gentlemen; and in consequence of their reporting, that, after the most minute inspection of the body, they had not discovered any appearance of external violence, or internal disorganization; and that in their opinion, his death had not been occasioned by any blow or stroke he had received. Simpson has been liberated from prison, after receiving a solemn admonition from the Magistrates.
Edinburgh, Feb. 11.—On Saturday morning, some fishermen discovered the body of a man in the sea, above Newhaven.
Regent's Bridge.—The erection of the new buildings projecting twelve feet into Shakspeare Square, has been stopped. No person can look at the junction of the Regent's bridge, Shakspeare Square, and Leith Street, without being convinced that a projection to any extent is altogether out of the question. It is our opinion indeed, and, what is of much more consequence, we believe it to be that of some of the most eminent architects in Edinburgh, that it would be proper, instead of projecting the buildings on the north side of the Bridge, to set them twelve or fifteen feet back. If the new buildings be raised on the same line with the old houses in Shakspeare Square, it will be impossible for the drivers of carriages coming westward along the Bridge, and up Leith Street, to be at all sensible of each other's approach; and in such crowded streets, there must consequently be the