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greatest risk, or rather absolute certainty, of accidents frequently occurring. But if the buildings on the north side of the Bridge were kept back to the extent of twelve or fifteen feet, drivers could observe one another, and would be able to pull up before any mischief had happened.
11.—The public will be much gratified to hear, that the Right Hon. the Earl of Buchan is immediately to repair the chain-bridge over the river Tweed, at Dryburgh Abbey, broke down by the late tempest. We understand this accident was entirely occasioned by the chains not being completed, and attached for preventing the lateral motion, and that being accelerated by the tremendous gale, and the peculiar local situation of the bridge acting without any check, was the sole cause of the accident.
12.—Convention of Royal Burghs.—The ensuing meeting of the Convention of Royal Burghs, to which we alluded in our last Number, will, we find, be of still greater importance than we had imagined. Our readers will perceive, from the annexed opinion given to the burgesses of Dundee, by some of the most eminent of our Scottish Lawyers, viz. Messrs Cranstoun, Thomson, Cockburn, and Ivory, that it is the decided opinion of these gentlemen, that the burgesses should apply for an alteration in the set of the burgh to the Convention, and not to the Privy Council or the Parliament. They state, that any application to the Privy Council, except where the burgh is disfranchised, is altogether incompetent; and unquestionably they had a good right to say that it was not very likely Parliament would pass a particular statute for the single case of Dundee.
Opinion for the Burgesses of Dundee.—"The burgh not being disfranchised, we are of opinion that any application to the Privy Council is altogether incompetent. Neither would we recommend a petition to Parliament; because, as a separate measure, we do not think it likely that a statute would be obtained for the particular case of Dundee. We would advise an application to the Convention of Burghs, as being, all circumstances considered, the only competent source from which redress can at present be obtained. We do this, however, on the supposition that all parties interested concur; because, without this, the Convention has no power to interfere.
As to the extent of change to be applied for, the set last alluded to in the Memorial,[1] as being that which adheres most closely to the form of the existing constitution, and which introduces no new class of persons among ng the bodies represented, seems the most likely to be obtained. At the same time, if all parties are agreed, we think the Convention has power to sanction a wider departure from the present set. Perhaps the best way for the memorialists to proceed, is to submit to the Convention generally, not only the set recommended above, but likewise those proposed by Mr Mudie and Mr Henderson, leaving it to the members of Convention to decide what extent of change they may themselves be inclined to grant.
"Geo. Cranstoun, H. Cockburn, Tho. Thomson, James Ivory.
"Edinburgh, Feb. 3, 1818."
We are informed, that some respectable citizens of Edinburgh have raised an action in the Court of Session, in which they have called the Officers of State as defenders, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is within the prerogatives of the Crown to change and alter the sets and constitutions of the Royal Burghs in Scotland, without the intervention of Parliament. It will be seen that this important question of law is one which has no connexion with the general question as to the expediency of any changes in the present sets of the burghs. Whatever may be the sentiments entertained upon that point, it is certainly highly desirable, if such changes are necessary, that they should be made by the Legislature, and should not depend on the will or bounty of the Crown, which, under a different state of political feeling, might recall at one time what it had granted at another.
A meeting of the Burgesses of Wigton was held on Thursday, which had under consideration what steps should be taken for procuring an alteration in the present mode of electing the Magistrates and Town Council of that burgh.
There are many Societies of the utmost consequence, and highest character, in the country, which have their meetings at Edinburgh, without any fixed or appropriate places for assembling; for example, the Highland Highland Society, the Antiquarian, the Horticultural, and many others. It has been suggested, that the area immediately to the east of the Waterloo Tavern and Hotel, on the Regent's Bridge, which, from the state of the subscription, is now fixed to go forward, and ending on that side the line of buildings, would be a most desirable situation for a great hall, which could answer the purposes of each; while every Society might secure ample accommodation for Committee Rooms, Museums, and what else may be desired, with separate entrances if required. These, so near such an establishment as is proposed for the Waterloo Tavern, would derive value from each other; and as an housekeeper and one set of servants could manage the whole, much saving to the parties would accrue.
The situation proposed for these buildings must now be the resort of strangers; and the museums which belong to each, and are rapidly increasing, would be an additional attraction, if brought to one point—affording also to the individual members much comfort, and certainly adding to the con-
- ↑ Copies of the different sets proposed for Dundee were laid before Counsel.