city was one of peculiar difficulty, and required more than ufual energy, as well as temper. While he fupported the of fice with proper dignity, he was frank, acceffible, and kindly attentive to his fellow citizens, whatever their rank; and it is but juftice to fay, that they were not ungrateful; for, by every denomination, he was refpected as a magistrate, and be loved as a man. The other gentlemen who ferved in the late magiftracy are entitled alfo to their fhare of public gratitude, for their ready co-operation in every measure that tend ed to general utility, the prefervation of good order, and regular police. The gentlemen who now fucceed, with acknowledged ability, bring into office the best wishes to serve their fellow citizens; to evince which, they will doubt lefs avail themselves of every opportunity that offers. Ta Sir James Stirling, after his election, addreffed the Magiftrates and Council in fubftance as follows: GENTLEMEN, 'The honour you have this day conferred upon me, in calling me a fecond time to fill the office of Chief Magiftrate in my native city, impreffes me with the moft lively fentiments of gratitude; for, befides that it is the moft diftinguished fituation in which a citizen can be placed, I own I feel the prefent teftimony of your favour doubly flattering, as it conveys at once an approbation of my former conduct while I held this important office, and a confidence, on your part, that I fhall be able in future to execute its duties in fuch a manner as fhall throw no difcredit on your choice. 'Fully fenfible, Gentlemen, of the honour, I am, be affured, no lefs fo of the arduoufnefs and difficulty of the task which you have been pleased to align to myfelf and brethren of the Magiftracy. There is, however, Gentlemen, one cir. cumstance of our fituation in which I and my brethren are equally fortunate with thofe who went before us; and this, I truft, will animate us, as it has done them, to a faithful discharge of our duty. We poffefs now an advantage, which, till the jaft, no fet of magiftrates have ever enjoyed. If the times are turbulent, and our domeftic fituation unfortunately fuch as to call for extraordinary exertions to maintain the juft afcendency of the civil power, and the authority of Government, we have this animating reflection, that we are not only attended with the good withes of all the respectable part of the commu nity, but may, with confidence, look for their real, active, and efficient fupport in every measure which has the public wel fare for its object. And here, Gentlemen, let me observe, that, in times like the present, unfortu nately ftained with crimes hitherto unknown to us, and but darkly remember. ed by our fathers,-I mean treason and fe dition!-treafon Loo, of a nature so much the more atrocious than any that has hitherto difgraced the annals of this coun try, that the government under which we live is unexampled in its moderation and respect for the liberties of the subject.In a crisis of this kind, it is criminal to ftand neuter. He that refutes to give his aid to the support of that Government to which he is indebted for his liberty, and the fecurity of his life and property, if we do not account him a fecret enemy, at least we must hold him unworthy of the bieflings he enjoys. Encouraged by the fupport of the great body of the people, and more particularly the worthy inhabitants of this ancient metropolis, we, its magiftrates, will do our best endea yours to acquit qurfelves to God and to our Country, of that important duty which our fellow-citizens have committed to our charge.' 2. This morning there was a very na merous attendance of the Edinburgh Volunteers on Heriot's Green, when Tho mas Elder, Efq; was received as Lieute nant Colonel. About nine o'clock, fuch of the corps as bore arms marched along the two bridges to Prince's Street, where they received the colours from Mr Elder, and conveyed them to the house of Sir James Stirling, Bart. in Queen's Street, the now Lord Lieutenant of the city. Sailed from Leith Roads, fix fail of transports with troops for Southampton, under convoy of the Aurora frigate. This evening betwixt eight and nine o'clock, a tremendous fire broke out in a candle-work at the foot of Leith Wynd; but, by the immediate and judicious erertions of the magiftrates, affifted by the city guard, fire-men, and engines, the fire was happily prevented from fpreading farther than the building in which it be gan, which was burnt to the ground. A quantity of candles and tallow was faved. It is uncertain how the fire began. Hap pily no lives were loft. The Univerfity and King's College of Aberdeen have conferred the degree of Doctor in Divinity on the Rev. John Young, minifter of the gospel at Hawick; and and appointed the Principal to tranfmit to him the thanks of their Society for the fatisfaction with which they have perufed his Eflags on Interesting Subjects, lately publifhed, and their approbation of his fentiments. 11. At a late meeting of the Truftees for the College of Edinburgh, they refolved to return their thanks to Sir Robert Abercromby, K. B. Commander in Chief in India, for his very liberal donation of 15,819 rupees (18451. Sterling), remitted by him to be applied towards building the new College. This fum (which is in addition to a former subscription of 250l. Sterling) they understand to have been the whole amount of Sir Robert's prize-money arif ing from the reduction of the province of Malabar by the army under his command. The above application of it will appear the more difinterestedly munificent, when it is known that Sir Robert Abercromby, on being appointed Commander in Chief of the forces in India, declined accepting (as Lord Cornwallis and General Meadows had done before) any fhare of the gratuity or prize-money allowed the army on the termination of the glorious war with Tippoo Saib. EXECUTION OF ROBERT WATT. and Magiftrates, came out upon the scaffold, where he was affifted in his devotions by Principal Baird. About a quarter before three, he afcended the platform; but craving fome longer indulgence, he came down, and kneeling, prayed with much fervency, for a fhort time, when he again mounted, and having dropped a handkerchief as the fignal, the platform dropped, about three o'clock. When the body had hung about thirtytwo minutes, it was cut down lifelefs, and placed on a table. The executioner then came forward with a large axe, and at two ftrokes fevered the head from the body. The head having been received in a basket prepared for the purpose, was afterwards, in the usual form, held up by the executioner, who pronounced, 'This is the head of a traitor.' This execution was conducted with much regularity, and the proceffion in particular was highly folemn and impressive. Watt himself exhibited a picture of the most abject dejection. He was wrapt up in a great coat, a red nightcap (which on the platform he exchanged for a white one), with a round hat, his stockings hanging loofe, and his whole appearance wretched in the extreme. The croud on this occafion was flow in collecting, and though numerous at laft, fcarcely amounted to what has appeared at former remarkable executions. pect a continuance of the enjoyment of genuine freedom and fecurity ! 15. Robert Watt, convicted of high ́ treason, was executed at the weft end of the Luckenbooths, pursuant to his fentence. About half paft one o'clock, the two junior Magiftrates, and the Rev. Prin- May this example strike deep into the cipal Baird, walked from the Council minds of thofe who inculcate the prinChamber to the Caftlehill, preceded by ciples that induced this infatuated man to the city conftables, and town officers, commit the crimes for which he suffered; and the city guard. When they reach- and may Britons of every denomination, ed the Water-house (the limits of the unanimoufly unite in fupporting a conburgh), they were met by the proceffionftitution, under which alone they can exfrom the Castle, which was in the following order: Two Chief Conftables of the fhire of Edinburgh, in black, with batons, two county conftables with batons. The Sheriff Depute and Sheriff-Substitute, dres fed in black, with white gloves and white rods. Six county constables, two and two, with batons. The hurdle painted black (drawn by a white horse), in which were feated the executioner dreffed in black, with the axe in his hand, and the criminal drawn backwards, and tied to the hurdle. Six under constables on each fide of the hurdle-twelve on the outfide of them, and twenty in the rear. Two hundred of the Argylefhire fencibles keeping off the mob, walking the dead march from the Caftle to the Water-house. Having entered the tolbooth, the cri-, minal, foon after, attended by the Sheriff Robert Watt, aged about 36, was the natural fon of a gentleman of fortune and respectability, in the county of Angus, but as is ufual, took the name of his mother. At about 10 years of age he was fent to Perth, where he received a good educa tion; and at 16, he engaged himself with a lawyer; but, from fome religious scruples took a difguft at his new employment s and, removing to Edinburgh, was engaged as a clerk in a paper-warehoufe, and lived for fome years, without any other complaint than the smallness of his falary. Being defirous of becoming a partner of the bufinefs, be, by the influence of fome friends, prevailed on his father to advance money for that purpofe; and then made proposals to his employers; but his offer was rejected. Having money in poffeffion he entered into the wine and fpirit trade, and for fome time had tolerable fuccefs; but was ruined, it is faid (but we know not how), on the commencement of the prefent war; and, unfortunately for himfelf, began from that time to frequent the meetings of the Friends of the People. CONFESSION OF ROBERT WATT. pikes, he got them made both for fale and diftribution.' Robert Watt, in his confeffion, fent fealed up to the Sheriff the night before his execution, the authenticity of which is attefted by the Rev. Principal Baird and the Rev. Mr Jones, folemnly declares, as a dying man, and on the brink of eternity, with the throne of judgement in his view, that, there remained few places that in formation was not received from; and there remained almoft nothing to do, for the execution of the whole plan, but a vifit to England and Ireland, by intelligent, and confidential perfons. The firft move ment was to have been made in Edinburgh, London, and Dublin, while every town in the kingdom was in readinefs to act according to the plan. A large body of men armed with pikes, guns, and grenades, under proper leaders, were to have furrounded the foldiers, who were to have been enticed out of the Caftle of Edinburgh in companies, by kindling fires, in different parts of the city. The Magiftrates, Lords of Jufticiary, Commander in Chief, and many other perfons, were to have been feized, and detained till the mind of the enfuing Convention, or rather Parliament, was known; and if found guilty of oppreflion and injuftice to the patriots, to fhare a fimilar fate with them viz. transportation. The public offices and banks were to be fecured. The property of fuch perfons deemed inimical to liberty, in the hands of bankers, was to be fealed up till their fate was known. The poft-office was to be taken poffeffion of, to cut off all communication between fuch as were hoftile to the patriots, while the channel of communication was left open for them. After these things were effected in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London, on the fame night, couriers were to be difpatched through the whole nation for troops to march to the affistance of the patriots, &c. Orders were to be iffued to fuch landholders and officers under Government, as did not cordially unite with the patriots, not to go three miles beyond their dwelling places, under pain of death; to farmers not to conceal or export grain; to fhipmafters, not to carry any perfons coaftways. With regard to the * Watt adds. I will not fay but my own intereft was blended in these views; for who is he, that if he ferves fociety, but will naturally expect a reward? He after wards regrets the reproach thrown by his conduct on religion; and obferves, that it is the duty of all fincere Chriftians to lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godlines and honefty, giving honour to whom honour is due, and fear to whom fear.' 20. The Synod of Fife met at Dunferm line on Tuesday laft the 14th current, enjoined the feveral Prefbyteries and Kirkfeffions within their bounds, to enforce the laws, civil and ecclefiaftical, refpecting the religious obfervation of the Lord's day. The Synod declared their firm and unfhaken attachment to our happy conftitation, as established in King, Lords, and Commons; and their willingness to enrol themselves, and do every thing in their power, in their respective stations, for repelling foreign invafion, and fupprefing domeftic infurrection, when properly cal led upon. 21. A woman, while on her passage from Paifley to Glafgow, in the mail coach, was fafely delivered of a fine male child. Mr Stock, against whom a bill of indictment was found for high treason, it is faid, has reached Philadelphia. 23. This day the election of one of the fixteen Peers (vacant by the death of Lord Elphinstone) came on at Holyroodhout, when the Earl of Hopetoun was choke without oppofition. Moft of the witneffes on the trials of Watt and Downie are to be adduced as evidence in the enfuing trials in London, For fome days paft the mail and Royal Charlotte coaches have been filled by them. On the 18th, the arms and ammertion delivered at the Tower for the Royal Pailley Volunteers paffed through Gla gow, efcorted by a detachment from the firft fencible regiment. The colours for the cops are alfo arrived; and are to t prefented in form upon the 24th. At Falkirk tryft last week. There were upwards of 28,000 head of black catth, and 30,000 fheep, few of which were left unfold. The Rothfay and Caithness Fencibles on the 16th inft. were infpected at Inver nefs, by General Sir Hector Monro, when of the whole baalion only one man was rejected. Of the 24 commiffioned Offices of the corps, 21 were on the field, all of whom were, one with another, fix feet high. An account was received on the 24th, at Lloyd's, that the outward bound Eaft In dia fleet were left all well on the 6th of June, in lat. 6. 34. N. lon. 21.-45. W. confifting of 43 fail. It appears, that a few days before a mutiny had been discovered on board the Surprise transport, in which the principals were Meffrs Muir, Palmer, and the Chief Mate, who had fucceeded in exciting the foldiers to riot: On the firft difcovery of this plot, a private fignal was made, when affiftance was procured from the Suffolk man of war, and the nefarious purpose of the ringleaders was completely defeated, they were all in confequence closely fecured, and the foldiers were removed a-part, on board different fhips. It was the intention of the mutineers, to kill the Captain, and take the earlieft opportunity of running away with the veffel to fome French port. In juftice, however, to Mr Muir, it is to be added, that for fome time he perfifted in having no hand in the business; but at length was perfuaded by the rest. On the 27th, Mr Thomas Hutchifon was elected Treasurer to the Merchant Maiden Hospital, in room of Mr Gillespie, refigned. 29. This day the prefbytery of Edinburgh took under confideration a petition from the barbers and hair-dreffers of this city, fetting forth the hardships of exercifing their trades on the Lord's day; and praying the prefbytery to interpofe their authority, for putting a ftop to that profane practice. The prefbytery enjoined all barbers, &c. within their bounds, not to follow their profeffion on the Lord's day; and refolved to profecute, in terms of law, such as shall be found difobeying. By a letter from Kirkwall, there is advice, that a fquadron of French frigates continue still to infeft the North Seas, and capture many veffels in the Baltic trade, which are carried into Bergen in Norway. The Synod of Aberdeen have appointed a day of thanksgiving for the good harveft, to be kept throughout their bounds on the 3d Wednesday of November next. CIRCUIT COURTS-GLASGOW. nifhed beyond feas for life, with certifica tion of death if she should return. The advocate-depute deferted the diet, pro loco et tempore, against George Shanks, weaver in Glasgow, and John Park, fome time weaver in Kilbarchan, and afterwards in Gorbals of Glasgow, indicted for fundry acts of theft from bleaching-fields, and for resetting stolen goods. They were committed to prifon. (Continued from p. 587.) Chriftian Shaw, indicted for fundry acts of houfe-breaking and theft, and being habit and repute a thief, judicially acknowledged her guilt; upon which the jury found the libel proven, and the advocate-depute confented to her being ba Janet Grofet, wife of William Douglas, foldier in the 15th regiment of foot; Jean Philips, wife of James M'Lean late changekeeper in Glasgow, and the faid James M'Lean, for various acts of house-breaking and theft, and for refetting ftolen goods. Grofet and Philips, after having pleaded not guilty, prefenting a petition, offering, as they could not expect to live comfortably in this country, after being accused of fuch crimes, to banish themfelves from Scotland, under fuch certification as the court should think proper.M'Lean was fugitated for non-appear. ance. Grofet and Philips were banished Scotland for life. John Mason, smith at Milngavie ; John Gardner, bleacher at Clobber; William Pe ter or Poter, calico printer there; and John M'Culloch, bleacher there; for an affault on Samuel Hunter, office of excife, hounding upon him a dog, and taking from him his excife books and papers.-The jury found the libel not proven; upon which they were all difmiffed from the bar, except Mason, who was imprisoned for offering to intimidate some of the witnesses. NEW INVENTION. The invention of a machine with a perpetual motion has long been confidered as an object of the greatest importance; and many eminent men for their abilities have bestowed much time and expence in endeavouring to find out the hidden principles of this machine. A mason in Arbroath informs, that, at a very early period in life, he began to study this branch of mechanifm; and now, after almoft thir ty-fix years of almost constant application, his endeavours have proved fuccessful. He fays he has finished a machine, in principle and construction, quite different from any other hitherto produced. It is almoft entirely compofed of metal, has neither pendulum nor fpring to actuate its motion, but moves merely by its own powers of preffure. This mobile has performed a regular movement for fome time past, and, from the fimplicity of its conftruction, and the principles by which it is re gulated, there is little reafon to doubt but that it will go for ages. POPULATION OF EUROPE. The population of France is eftimated at 26 millions; that of Germany at 22 millions; the Emperor's other dominions at 13 millions; Italy at 18 millions; Spain at 12; Great Britain and Ireland at near 13; Pruffia at 3; Belgium, comprehending the feventeen provinces, feven of which belong to the Dutch, at 6; Portugal at 2. Thus we may perceive how far the population of the allied powers exceeded that of France, and how improbable it heretofore appeared, that the French could long oppofe their united forces, much lefs to be almost every where victorious, as has been for feveral months the cafe. THE weather has been very variable - this month; but, upon the whole, pretty mild. The potatoe crop has been got in, though it has, in many places, fuffered by the rains, many being fwelled and rotten. The markets have continued to be well fupplied, with little variation in price. The herrings have made their appearance on the east coast, but not in great plenty. The uncommonly fine feafon has, as might be expected, brought forth many "remarkable vegetable productions. cles, has this year produced 96 threave of There was planted at Lower, in the A potatoe was dug up in the Glebe of Fintry, which weighed two pounds 15 ounces. A cabbage was cut at. Bridfton, in the neighbourhood of Glafgow, which weigh ed 33 pounds Tron. At Dunfermline a bee-hive, the property of John Scotland, was caft upos the 18th of June laft, and smoked the Ifto September, when it weighed 153 lb. grofs; of which there were upwards of 10 of the finest honey-comb as white as chalk, befides others intermixed with bee-bread. Had the honey been all extracted from the wax, it would have contained about 24 pints. What is very remarkable, when the hive was fmoked, there were not a bove 200 bees in it: and this great quan tity of honey was amassed in little more than three weeks. LISTS. In the garden at Balchryftie, Fifeshire, one of the apple-trees, remarkable for the fize and beauty of its fruit, bore an apple this year which weighed 194 ounces, and Lately, at Quebec, Lieut. Col. Roiner, of measured 134 inches round. Five others · were weighed at the fame time; two of the 60th regt. to Mifs Mary Ann Cuthbert, Cuthbert, Efq. which weighed 13 ounces, two 134, and daughter of one 15 ounces. The tree is an American Spitzburg, and is a native of New York, or of Long Island. Many pears from the above-mentioned garden weighed 10 ounces. A pear-tree, in an orchard at Hawick, has this feafon produced three fucceffive crops, all of which were upon it at once, the firft ripe, the fecond pretty large, and the third fairly formed; and the whole three have been fucceflively taken off fully ripe. In the schoolmaster's garden at Muffel-· burgh there was a ftandard apple-tree in full bloffom, on the 6th of October. There was pulled on the 8th inftant, in a garden in Stirling, belonging to Mr Buchan of the royal navy, pears from a jargonel and Crawford tree in full maturity, after a full crop in their ordinary season. Four acres of land, in the parish of Ec At Utrecht, the Rev. W. Douglas, only fon of the Bishop of Salisbury, to Anne, fecond daughter of the late Baron de Brachel, of Courland. O. 1. At Wallyford Houfe, Capt. From of Freeland, to Mifs Duncanfon, daughter ef the late Ja. Duncanfon, Efq; of Keils. 3. At Dumfries, Mr Wm Inglis, furgent, to Mifs Helen Mitchell, daughter of Collecter Mitchell, of the Excife there. 8. At Leith, Mr Thomas Stevenfon, mer chant in Oban, to Mifs Maul, daughter of Charles Maul, Efq; Leith. At Aberdeen, Mr William Willer, merchant, to Mifs Margaret Tyrie, daugh> ter of Mr David Tyrie, Aberdeen. 9 At London, Mr Barclay, of Pate Square, to Mifs J. H. Duddington, of Fifefhire. 12. At Ealing, James Tod, Efq; of Kew, to Mifs Innes, daughter of Albert Innes, Elgj of Little Ealing. 16. |