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in the Greyfriars burial ground, the Magistrates, Professors of the University, a deputation of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland, with those belonging to the city, the Judges of the Courts of Session and Justiciary, the Barons of Exchequer, the Faculty of Advocates, Writers to the signet, and Solicitors before these Courts, accompanying the procession, in their robes.

51. An extraordinary flux and reflux of the sea at Plymouth.

June 2. Christophe crowned King of Hayti, by the title of Henry the First.

7. An earthquake felt at the Cape of Good Hope.

7. A severe thunder storm at Edinburgh, during which the lightning struck the house of Dr Henderson, at Fountainbridge, which was considerably damaged, and so severely burnt a servant-maid that she died in a short time after.

11. The siege of Badajos raised by the allies, after two attempts to take it by storm.

14. A great fire at Konigsberg, in Prussia, which burnt almost the half of the suburbs; 134 granaries were burnt, and the damage computed at a million of rixdollars.

18. A volcanic island, which arose from the bottom of the sea, off the west end of St Michael's, one of the Azores, discovered and taken possession of by the Sabrina sloop of war, in the name of his Britannic Majesty.

19. In the Court of King's Bench, a verdict was given for the defendant, in the action of Sir Francis Burdett against the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons.

- A grand fete given by the Prince Regent, at Carleton-house, in honour of the King's birth-day, when upwards of 2000 of the nobility and gentry sat down to dinner. 28. Tarragona taken by storm by the French. Four thousand Span

iards were killed in the city, 1000 sabred or drowned, and nearly 10,000 made prisoners.

-The House of Lords found, after an investigation which lasted several months, that the claimant to the title of Earl of Berkeley, had not made out his case. By this decision, the title goes to the fourth son of the late Earl, being the first born legitimate child.

July 5. Representatives from the different provinces of the Caraccas, assembled in a general congress, publish a declaration of independence.

7. A severe hurricane in the West Indies, which continued till the 8th, when a number of vessels were lost.

14. The office of the Paisley Union Bank, at Glasgow, broken into, and upwards of 20,000l. in bank notes carried off.

21. Parliament prorogued by commission.

29. The yellow fever broke out at Carthagena, and several other places on the coast of Spain, and continued to rage through the rest of the season.

30. A proclamation issued by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for enforcing the convention act.

32. An extraordinary meeting of the Catholic committee held in Dublin, when a number of resolutions were passed, expressive of their determination to meet for the purpose of petitioning Parliament.

August 4. The British troops land in the island of Java.

5. Five catholic gentlemen arrested at Dublin, by virtue of warrants from the Lord Chief Justice, for acting as delegates to the Catho lic committee.

8. Batavia surrendered to the British forces.

10. A sharp action with the enemy in Java, in which they lost a General and 300 men.

12. Mr Saddler ascended in a balloon, from the Mermaid, Hack ney, accompanied by Lieutenant Paget, royal navy, and, after a pleasant aerial voyage, descended near Tilbury Fort, in Essex.

13. The city of New Valencia, in South America, taken by storm, by General Miranda, formerly in the service of the French republic, the commander of the revolutionary forces.

19. The fortress of Figueras surrendered to the French, after a blockade of four months.

26. A severe battle between the British and French, near Batavia, in which the latter were completely defeated, with the loss of 2000 killed and 5000 made prisoners, in. cluding three Generals. The loss of the British, above 800 in killed and wounded.

29. A comet appeared, not foretold by the astronomers, and was still visible in December, though much diminished in splendour.:

Sep. 17. A revolt of the free people of colour and negroes broke out in the island of Martinique, and continued till the 21st, when it was suppressed without much bloodshed.

21. Bonaparte, while on a tour to the coast of Holland, witnessed the capture of a praam at Boulogne, by the Naiad frigate, Captain Carteret, Rinaldo, Redpole, and Castilian brigs, and Viper cutter, after an engagement with seven praams. and 15 smaller vessels.

25 and 27. Some smart skirmishes between the allied and French armies in Portugal, in which the latter, after having succeeded in throwing supplies into Ciudad Rodrigo, retreated to Salamanca.

28. A boxing match took place at Thisleton Gap, Rutlandshire, between Crib and Molineaux, in which the former was victor. Upwards of 50,000l. were betted on the occasion.

October 1. Several gentlemen appointed by the British Government as Commissioners to mediate between Spain and her American colonies.

4. A Newhaven boat lost on the passage from Kinghorn; three of the crew drowned, and the fourth saved with great difficulty.

13. A violent gale of wind from the S. W. which did considerable damage to the shipping, &c.

14. The Pomone frigate lost, by striking on the Needle rocks.

19. The honourable Charles Hay, Lord Newton, died suddenly in Forfarshire.

22. The right honourable Charles Hope appointed President of the College of Justice, in room of President Blair, deceased.

25. General Blake defeated by the French army under Suchet, when attempting to relieve Saguntum, near Valencia, in consequence of which the place surrendered.

23. A division of the French army of Portugal, under General Girard, surprised by General Hill; 300 killed, upwards of 1000 taken prisoners, including two Generals and 40 officers, with all their artillery and baggage.

29. The right honourable David Boyle appointed Justice Clerk, in the room of President Hope.

30. The sloop Fame, of Carron, captured by a French privateer, brought ap to the North Queensferry, with six Frenchmen board, during a storm, under the direction of a boy of 13 years of age.

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31. A dreadful storm of wind and rain, accompanied by extraordinary high tides, which continued several days, and did very great damage along the coast.

Nov. 10. A fire broke out in the Exchequer Chambers, Edinburgh, which was happily extinguished without doing any material damage.

12. The Court of Session met for

the

the winter. On this occasion the right honourable Charles Hope Charles Hope took his seat as Lord President, the right honourable David Boyle as Justice Clerk, and Robert Craigie, Esq. presented the Regent's letter, naming him one of the Lords of Session.

15. A ferry-boat lost between Fort George and Fortrose, and eleven persons drowned.

16. Robert Craigie, Esq. took his seat as one of the Judges of the Court of Session, by the title of Lord Craigie.

- Serious riots at Nottingham, created principally by the journeymen weavers destroying articles of machinery which diminished the demand for labour.

21. Dr Sheridan, one of the Catholic delegates, tried in the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, and acquitted.

27. A powder-mill blew up at Waltham Abbey, by which seven persons lost their lives.

30. David Williamson and Adam Gillies, Esqrs. took their seats on the bench, the former as Lord Balgray, the latter as Lord Gillies.

-Horrid mutiny and murder committed on board a prize ship in the Channel. The perpetrators were convicted, and hanged at Portsmouth.

Dec. 5. The Saldanha frigate, Captain the honourable W. Pakenham, lost off the coast of Ireland, with all the crew.

7. Mr and Mrs Marr, their infant son, and a servant lad, aged 14, most inhumanly murdered in their own house, in Ratcliffe Highway, London. A reward of 5001. offered by Government for a discovery of the perpetrators.

10. Benjamin Walsh, Esq. Member of Parliament for Wooton Bassett, apprehended at Falmouth, for feloniously stealing from Sir Thomas Plomer, the Solicitor-General, the

1

sum of 20,0001. Part of the money was recovered, and Mr Walsh, after an examination, fully committed for trial.

19. Mr and Mrs Williamson, and their servant maid, all murdered, in Mr Williamson's house, Gravel Lane, London. A reward of 5001. offered to discover the murderers.

21. A house in Castlehill, Edinburgh, blown up by gunpowder; one woman was killed, and several other persons wounded, one of whom (a woman), is since dead.

24. Bonaparte, by a decree, calls out 120,000 men, of the conscription of 1812.

27. Williams, one of the persons apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the murders at Ratcliffe Highway and New Gravel Lane, found suspended in his cell in Coldbath-fields prison. From evidence examined since his death, little doubt remains of his being one of the perpetrators of these horrid crimes.

New-year's day morning a verv great number of people were knocked down and robbed on the streets of this city, some of them dangerously hurt. The most active measures have been adopted by the magistrates to discover the offenders. A policeman died in the Royal infirmary, three days after, in consequence of the hurts he received on this occasion.

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root as to be afterwards immoveable. It was first introduced by a few great men, and has been since anxiously copied by a great many little men. What I allude to, is the mean practice of not receiving the horses and servants of visitors; but of dismissing them, however tired or jaded, to some paltry alehouse, or perhaps to an inn at a considerable distance. With great men who do not return visits, this may answer very well; and may save to them at the years end, five and twenty, or even thirty pounds; a sum, certainly not to be overlooked in these hard times. It is true, it will cost their visitors three or four times that sum; but then, again, the Inn, which probably belongs to the great man, will fetch a proportionable rent, and by this means he is doubly a gainer. Besides, however the horses may fare, the servants have themselves to blame if they have not every thing that is best; they are, in fact, masters, for the time; and may order what they please, without the smallest chance of their masters

learning what they are about; and if they should be afraid of swelling out the bill for their own entertainment too much, there is an easy method, though probably unknown to our chemists, of converting oats into porter, or even into wine! Not to mention the many useful lessons which a country booby of a servant will naturally learn by frequent communications with immaculate hostlers and chaise drivers! Now, although I have clearly shown that this practice is really profitable to the great man who does not return visits, yet, I confess, I do not see either the profit or economy of it to the little man who does. But, to put the matter in a clear light, let us suppose that when I go to visit my friend 1, it costs thirty shillings for my servants and

me

horses at an in which does not belong (for that is a matter to be considered) to the said A; and when the said A returns my visit, it costs him the same. Now had A received my horses, and I his, it would not have cost each of us above a third of that sum. Ergo, we lose just twenty shillings a piece by this refinement in hospitality. Q. E. D. For my own part, I confess I would take it quite as kind to be sent to the alehouse myself, as to have my servants and horses sent thither; and the former, indeed, I think, would be a great improvement upon this species of hospitality.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

ANDREW AULD.

P. S. If the practice continues, would it not be a notable improvement to convert our Porter's Lodges into inns.

Proceedings of the Wernerian
Society.

T
on the 14th December, Pro-
fessor Jameson read a short gene-
ral account of the geognosy of the
Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. It
would appear from the Professor's
description, that the greater por-
tion of this part of Scotland is com-
posed of grey-wacke, grey-wacke
slate, and transition slate, with sub-
ordinate beds of transition porphyry,
transition greenstone, and flinty
slate. But three tracts, the first
of which contains the mountain of
Criffle, the second Cairnsmuir of
Dee, &c. and the third Loch Doune,
are composed of granite, sienite,
sienitic porphyry, and killas. The
sienite and granite, in some places,
are covered by the killas; in other
places the granite and sienite rest
upon the killas; and Professor Ja-
meson also observed the killas al-
ternating

the meeting of this Society,

ternating with beds of granite and sienite, and veins shooting from the granite into the adjacent killas. The granitous rocks, besides felspar, quartz, mica, and hornblende, also contain imbedded rutilite, titanitie, iron-ore, and molybdena; and, in rolled masses of a reddish coloured sienite, crystals and grains of zircon were observed. Professor Jameson also stated several of the characters of the killas, described the magnetic pyrites it contains, noticed its af finity with certain rocks of the transition class, and exhibited specimens to illustrate this affinity.

At the same meeting, there was read a series of thermometrical observations on the temperature of the Gulf Stream, by Dr Manson of New Galloway: And a description of a new craniometer, proposed by Mr W. E. Leach, illustrated by a sketch.

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HIS eminent Physician, born at

Edinburgh on the 6th September 1714, was the son of Robert Whytt, Esq. of Bennochy, Fifeshire, advocate, by his wife Jean, daughter of Anthony Murray, Esq. of Woodend, Perthshire, advocate, and niece of Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick, baronet, Lord Register in the time of Charles II. Robert Whytt died six months before the birth of our author, who had also the misfortune to be deprived of his mother soon after he had attained the 15th year of his age. After receiving the first rudiments of school education, he was sent to the University of St Andrews, and, after the usual course of instruction there, in classical, philosophical, January 1812.

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and mathematical learning, he came to Edinburgh, where he entered upon the study of medicine, under these eminent medical teachers, Munro, Rutherford, Sinclair, Plummer, Alston, and James. After learning what was to be acquired at this university, in the prosecution of his studies, he visited foreign countries; and, after attending the most eminent teachers at London, Paris, and Leyden, he had the degree of doctor of physic conferred upon him by the University of Rheims in 1736, being then in the 22d year of his age.

Upon his return to his native country, he had the same honour also conferred upon him by the University of St Andrews; where he had before obtained, with applause, the degree of master of arts.

Not long afterwards, in the year 1737, he was admitted a licentiate of medicine by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; and, the rank of fellow of the college. From year following, he was raised to the

the time of his admission as a licen

tiate, he entered upon the practice of physic at Edinburgh ; and the reputa tion which he acquired for medical learning, pointed him out as a fit suc

vacant chair in

university. Accordingly, when Dr Sinclair, whose eminent medical abilitics, and persuasive powers of oratory, had contributed not a little to the rapid advancement of the medical school of Edinburgh, found that these conspicuous talents which he possessed, couldno longer beexerted in the manner which they once had been, when he enjoyed bodily vigour, unimpaired by age, and powers of mind unloaded by disease, he resigned his academical appointments in favour of Dr Whytt.

This admission into the college took place on the 20th of June 1746; and he began his first course of the institutions of medicine at the com

mencement

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