We hear with pleasure that the voluntary contributions for the relief of the poor at Glafgow are carrying on with fuccefs, and that the fum already received for this pious purpose amounts to above 400l.

The dearth and scarcity of meal, we hear has been fo great in the county of Murray for fome time paft, that the inhabitants of Elgin went in a numerous body on Monday the 1ft inft. with money in their hand, to the houses of three gentlemen whom they fufpected to have hoarded up great quantities of grain, and demanded meal to fupport themfelves, and families for ready money at any price. The gentlemen received them politely, and even in a friendly and hofpitable manner; and upon hearing their complaint and request, fent them in immediately a quantity of meal to fupply their prefent neceflity, at 11 d. per peck, (9 lb.) and promifed to fupply the market as far as in their power till next crop, at fame price.

On the 15th inftant the High Court of Jufticiary met according to appointment, to give judgment on the import of the verdict in the trial of Murdifon and Miller, for fheep-ftealing.

The objections urged by the Council for the pannels, in order to prove that no judgment could be pronounced upon the verdict, were, ift, That the verdict having been figned on Sunday, was altogether void and null, and fo could be the foundation of no judgment whatever. 2dly, That the verdict was imperfect, because it did not exhauft the indictment, and found only with refpect to fome articles; whereas the jury ought to have determined upon every article of the indictment, finding them either proven or not proven; and that this imperfection was alfo a nullity. 3dly, It was argued, That the verdict was uncertain; for that the indictment charged the pannels as feverally guilty of theft, or receipt of theft; and that the jury had found the indictment proven, without distinguishing which of the two crimes

they meant to find the pannels guilty of; and that this uncertainty also rendered the verdict abortive.

With refpect to the first of thefe objections, it was obferved from the Bench, That tho' the light of nature directed to fet apart a portion of time for the fervice of God, and this was enforced by the law of God, yet this law expressly excepted works of neces fity and mercy; and that the trial of a criminal was a work of neceffity to him, and a work of mercy to the country; and were any regard to be paid to this objection, an effectual ftop would be put to all law and justice whatsoever' as it was eafy for an ingenious and able Council to fpin out a trial till the Sabbath morning.

With refpect to the 2d objection it was obferved, That the indictment upon which the pannels were tried, contained a variety of acts, each of which made a feparate iffue; and when the jury found the indictment proven with refpect to fome of thefe acts, it exhaufted thefe iflues, and fo made a complete verdict, tho' the verdict found nothing as to the other iffues in the indictment: Befides, by the forms of criminal indictments in Scotland, the iffue is not compofed of the whole facts fet forth in the indictment; on the contrary every indictment fays" all which, or part thereof being proven;" fo that the iffue is reftricted to any part of the facts upon which the profecutors shall bring proof: Hence a verdict, finding part of the facts proven, is by the forms of this country agreeable to the issue with which the jury were charged, and confequently a good verdict, although filent as to the reft of the facts fet forth in the indictment.

As to the fuppofed uncertainty it was obferved, that this uncertainty can have no influence on the verdict, whether it was to be confidered as a fpecial verdict finding only facts proved which the jury have found without going farther, or as a general verdict finding the indictment proved with re

gard

gard to the fact which the verdict takes notice of, as the feeming uncertainty is not in the facts which it is the province of the jury to afcertain, but in the law, which it was the duty and bufinels of the Court to determine. In the verdict there is no uncertainty whatever in fact,-it finds the facts to be as fet forth in the libel, and is only uncertain as to the confequences of thefe facts, whether by the rules of law they ought to infer theft or refet; and it is the province of the Court, to remove this uncertainty by judging from the facts which the jury have found proved.

The Court having repelled the objections, immediately pronounced fentence against the pannels ordaining them to be hanged in the Grafs-market on Wednesday the 24th of March next, being the fame day that John Watson is to fuffer for house breaking.

We hear an appeal is to be made to the Houfe of Peers, against the above sentence of the Court of Jufticiary, that being one of the cafes in which it is thought an appeal can be brought.

Robert Provan,imprifoned for houfebreaking at Glafgow, and Alexander Morifon, accufed of theft, were upon their own petition, (his Majefty's folicitor having confented thereto) fentenced by the court of Jufticiary to be banished to the plantations for life.

It is thought that either Dr Alex. Monro Drummond or Dr. Aad. Duncan will fucceed Dr. Gregory in his Profefforship.

Laft Friday evening a man the worfe of liquor had his pocket picked of 50l. betwixt Leith and Edinburgh. Two fellows who came from Leith with him are fufpected.

On Friday night betwixt 9 and 10 o'clock two gentlewomen were attack. ed at Cleland's gardens by a fellow who knocked one of them down, and took away her cap and cloak; fomebody coming up prevented him from doing further mischief.

Extract of letter from Holywell, Flint

Shire February 2.

But

"The memory of man cannot recollect fuch quantities of fnow to have fallen in thefe parts, as laft week; my houfe is three ftories high, and I can hardly lay me down with fecurity in the garret: Nature feems to be refolved on vengeance, and to let impious mortals feel the violence of her wrath. Men, women, children, and cattle have found their tombs in the fnow. All was lamentation, and Snowdon's cliffs reverberated the doleful cries. this, dreadful as it is, is not all. The night before laft, Mochamma (a very high mountain in this neighbourhood,) was heard to utter, as it were deep groans; the adjacent hills trembled from their roots, and every body concluded, that the general diffolution was now beginning its havock. The noife at eleven o'clock was like the found of a diftant thunder, more properly. that which we hear afar off, from the rolling of huge ftones down a craggy precipice. At twelve there was a loud clap, and the vertex of the hill threw up in the fame inftant vàft bodies of combuftible matter; liquid fire rolled along the heaps of ruins; at the clofe of all, nature feemed to make a grand effort and with a found, the big dreadfulness of which, language wants words to exprefs, rent one fide of the moun, tain, which was folid ftone, into an hiatus,whofe breadth feems to be about 200 yards: the fummit of the hill tumbled into its vaft opening; and the top appears level, which before was almost perpendicular.

All is now huthed; but in the places where the fire melted the fnow, the earth throws out the verdure of May. The confternation which this dire event occafioned cannot well be told; at Ruthin, as two perions were endeavouring to make their efcape from danger, they were buried in a drift; feveral made their efcape from St. Afaph into the fea, and fell victims to their timidity. I have no leifure to make any obfervations on

fuch

fuch aftonishing phænomena; let me taphyfic heads bufy themfelves with that: I fhall only defire you to make known by your paper this dreadful fhock.

Yours, &c.

ATTONITUS."

DEATH S. Dec. 30th. At Soveterre, in the Canton of Berne James Noguez, a skilful furgeon, aged 109 years. He had always enjoyed a state of good health, though he lived pretty freely. The day he died he had been at mafs, dined with an appetite, and was bufied in the afternoon with fome ruftic employ

ments.

Jan. 31ft. At her houfe in Picadilly Mrs Elizabeth Clark in the 104 year of her age, She never had an hours illnefs before her death.

Feb. 5. At Edinburgh the Right Hon. William Lord Newark.-His Lordfhip was fon to Sir Alexander Anftruther, and Jean Lefly Baronefs of Newark, and upon her death in in 1740 affumed the name of Lefly and the titles of Lord Newark. His Lordship dying without iffue the title devolves on Alexander Anftruther Efq; merchant at Bulogne, his only furviving brother.

5. In the Parish of Cromdale Strathfpey, Janet Grant, Relict of William Cuming, aged 95. She retained her fight and fenfes till a few hours before he died: fhe was born about the end of Charles IId's Reign, and lived in the time of feven crowned Heads. She faw One hundred and thirteen Children, Grand-children and great Grand-children, born or defcended from her own bedy. She lived fifty years a widow, and was twenty-four years married.

10. At Edinburgh univerfally regretted, Dr John Gregory, Fellow of the Royal College of Phyficians in Edinburgh: one of his Majefty's phyficians for Scotland; Profeffor of the practice of Phyfic in this University; author of a Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man, with thofe

of the Animal World, and of Lectures on the duties and qualifications of a Phyfician.

11. At Aberdeen a Woman of the name of Cadenhead, aged 103.

A Peafant in Sweden at the age of 109 year; what is remarkable, his mother died aged 110, and his Brother a few years ago, died when he was 109.

A few day ago William Williams, Efq; of Pantyfiry, near Lampeter, in Cardiganshire. This remarkable perfon led the life of a Hermit at a place furrounded by the most ftupendous rocks. He was poffeffed of a plentiful fortune, and the poor people near his a bode ftiled him " King of the Mountains," from the great number of horfes he had there.

PERT H.

We hear from Stonhaven, that the following melancholy accident happened a few days ago at the farm of Logie near that place: two men went into the kiln at night with a candle, and took off from the cross trees the ftraw on which the corn had been dried, and flung it to the door of the kiln, where it took fire, being as dry as tinder: one of the men was burnt to afhes, no other remains of his body being found but a bit of his arm; the other found means to fcramble up to the top of the kiln, whence he was taken out, dreadfully fcorched.

On the 9th inft. at night, Charles Morifon the Rynnie carrier, was rob bed near Greenburn, on his way home from Aberdeen, by a fingle footpad, of about 40 s. and greatly bruifed.

And next day, a man who had lately come from the South, and was go ing home to his friends, was robbed near the fame place of 71. fterl and is obliged to beg his way home.

We hear from Fochabers, that on Thurfday laft, fome perfons found means to break up a window in the fhop of George Matthefon, Merchant in Fochabers, and ftole from thence a Silver watch, but did no other damage.

OF

The HERMIT.

T was in that delightful month

and which most reveres his deity: that month which ever weaves averdant carpet for the earth, and embroiders it with flowers. The banks became inviting thro' their coverlets of mofs: the violets refreshed by the moisture of defcending rains, enriched the tepid air with their agreeable perfumes. But the fhower was part; the fun difperfed the vapours; and the fky was clear and lucid when Polydore walked forth. He was of a complexion altogether plain and unaffected; a lover of the mufes, and beloved by them. He would of tentimes retire from the noife of mixt converfation, to enjoy the melody of birds, or the murmurs of a water-fall. His neighbours often fmiled at his peculiarity of temper; and he no lefs, at the vulgar caft of theirs. He could never be content to pafs his irrevocable time in an idle comment upon a newspaper, or in adjufting the precife difference of temperature betwixt the weather of to-day and yesterday. In fhort, he was not void of fome ambition, but what he felt he acknowledged, and was never averfe to vindicate. As he never cenfured any one who indulged their humour inoffenfively, fo he claimed no manner of applaufe for thefe purVOL. III.

fuits which gratified his own. But the fentiments he entertained of honour, and the dignity conferred by royal au

the thoughts of obfcurity and oblivion. He mentioned with applaufe the youths who by merit had arrived at station; but he thought that all should in life's vifit leave fome token of their existence, and that their friends might more reafonably expect it from them, than they from their pofterity.

There were few he thought of talents fo very inconfiderable,as to be unalterably excluded from all degrees of fame and in regard to fuch as had a liberal education, he ever wished that in fome art or fcience they would be perfuaded to engrave their names. He thought it might be fome pleasure to reflect, that their names would at least be honoured by their defcendants, altho' they might efcape the notice of fuch as, were not prejudiced in their fa

vour.

What a luftre, faid he, does the reputation of a Wren, a Waller, or a Walfingham, caft upon their remoteft progeny? and who would not with ra ther to be defcended from them, than from the mere carcafe of nobility? yet wherever fuperb titles are faithfully offered as the reward of merit,he thought the allurements of ambition were too

LI transporting

tranfporting to be refifted. But to re

turn.

Polydore, a new inhabitant in a fort of wild uninhabited country, was now afcended to the top of a mountain, and in the full enjoyment of a very extenfive profpect. Before him a broad and winding valley, variegated with all the charms of landscape. Fertile meadows, glittering ftreams, pendent rocks, and nodding ruins. But thefe indeed were much lefs the objects of his attention, than those diftant hills and fpires that were almoft concealed by one undiftinguished azure. The fea indeed appeared to close the scene, though diftant as it was, it but little variegated the view. Hardly indeed were it diftinguishable but for the beams of a defcending fun, which at the fame time warned our traveller to return, before the dufkinefs and dews of evening had rendered his walk uncomfortable.

He had now defcended to the foot of the mountain, when he remarked an old hermit approaching to a little-hut, which he had formed with his own hands, at the very bottom of the precipice. Polydore, all enamoured of the beauties he had been furveying, could not avoid wondering at his conduct, who, not content with fhunning all commerce with mankind, had contrived as much as poffible to exclude all views of nature. He accofted him in the manner following. Father, fays he, it is with no fmall furprize, that I obferve your choice of fituation, by which you seem to neglect the moft diftant and delightful landscape that ever my eyes beheld. The hill beneath which you have contrived to hide your habitation, which would have afforded you fuch a variety of natural curiofities, as to a perfon fo contemplative, muft appear highly entertaining; and as the cell to which you are advancing is feemingly of your own contrivance, methinks it was probable you would have fo placed it, as to present them, in all their beauty, to your eye.

The Hermit made him this anfwer

My fon, fays he, the evening approaches, and you have deviated from your way. I would not therefore detain you by my ftory, did I not imagine the moon would prove a fafer guide to you, than that fetting fun which you muft otherwife rely upon. Enter there fore for a while into my cave, and I will give you then fome account of my adventures, which will folve your doubts perhaps more effectually than any method I can propofe. But before you enter my lone abode, calculated only for the ufe of meditation, dare to contemn fuperfluous magnificence, and render thyfelf worthy of the being I contemplate.

Know then, that I owe what the world is pleafed to call my ruin (and indeed justly, were it not for the ufe which I have made of it) to an affured dependence, in a literal fenfe, upon confused and diftant profpects; a confideration which hath indeed so affected me, that I fhall never henceforth enjoy a landscape that lies at fo remote a dif tance as not to exhibit all its parts. And indeed were I to form the leaft preten fions to what your world calls tafte, I might even then perhaps contend that a well difcriminated landscape was at all times to be preferred to a diftant and promifcuous azure.

I was born in the parish of a nobleman who arrived to the principal management of the business of the nation. The heir of his family and myself were of the fame age, and for fome time fchool-fellows. I had made confiderable advances in his esteem,and the mu tual affection we entertained for each other, did not long remain unobferved by his family or my own. He was fent early upon his travels, pursuant to a very injudicious custom, and my pa rents were folicited to confent that I might accompany him. Intimations were given to my friends, that a perfon of fuch importance as his father, might contribute much more to my immediate promotion, than the utmoft diligence I could ufe in purfuit of it. My father,