SCOTLAND.
The graduates of the Universities of Scotland are seeking Parliament- ary representation. To give publicity and consistence to their views, a meeting was held on Monday, in the hall of the Philosophical Society, Glasgow ; Mr. Robert Baird, writer, in the chair. After some prelimi- nary remarks on the state of the Reform question, and the necessity for curing the evils of corruption, Mr. Baird laid before the meeting the claims of the Universities.
In asking for Parliamentary representation for the Scotch Universities, they had two conclusive reasons to urge on the attention of Government. The first of these was that a university constituency would embrace a suffi- cient amount of education, knowledge, and independence, to exercise the franchise disinterestedly, freely, and intelligently ; and secondly, he main- tained that the very circumstance that the graduates of the Universities are scattered over the country would render them less liable to be influenced by anything but the appeals of reason, communicated by the candidates them- selves, and not through their agents. It is also very desirable to have a number of seats secured to constituencies not very numerous, and not much influenced by popular feeling. How often is it the ease, at the present time, that men of great eminence, who would be acquisitions to Parliament, are deterred from coming forward as candidates for Parliamentary honours by the enormous expense sure to attend their return. He instanced the case of Mr. Inglis, late Lord-Advocate, who, after being defeated at Orkney, had to take refuge in Ireland, where he was also unsuccessful; and yet his official position ren- dered his presence in the House of Commons indispensable for the proper conduct of Scotch business. Had the Scotch Universities been represented, such an occurrence would not have happened.
The Reverend Dr. Robson said, he came to the meeting, not as a poli- tical agitator, but to secure Parliamentary representation to the graduates of the Scotch Universities.
The Scotch system of education is not inferior to that of England ; and in proportion to the number of graduates, Scotland has no need to be afraid of holding up her head alongside of Oxford or Cambridge as to the eminent men she has sent forth. But it was argued, that by giving the Scottish Univer- sities representation, the Legislature would be giving it to a contemptible constituency. Now, he had documentary evidence to show that there are 2505 gentlemen who have graduated at the University of Glasgow alone; while Trinity College, Dublin, has two Members, with a constituency only numbering 1780. The true theory of representation is to reflect the mind of the country ; and could that object be secured better than by enfranchising the graduates of the Scottish Universities ? He moved, "That the position of the graduates of Scotch Universities has long been highly anomalous, and as viewed in connexion with the circumstances of the present times, demands an immediate change." Dr. A. D. Anderson said he had the authority of the Faculty. of Phy- sicians and Surgeons to attend and support the movement ; and he moved a resolution accordingly. All the resolutions were carried; and the meeting resolved itself into an association to be called the "Glasgow Association of Scottish Graduates."
Lord Fullerton, who so recently retired from the bench, died on Saturday, of English cholera, in his seventy-eighth year. lie was called to the bar in 1798, five years after Sir Walter Scott ; and was appointed a Lord of Ses- sion in 1828, through Sir Robert Peel. Lord Fullerton was "deemed one of the soundest, most learned, and accomplished lawyers on the boards," says a Scotch contemporary. The new Judge in the room of Lord Fullerton is Mr. Hercules Robert- son Sheriff-Depute of Renfrewshire. He takes his scat on the Bench as Lord Bcnholme.
No fewer than nine Judges have taken their seats on the Scottish Bench since the beginning of 1850.—Scotsman.
It would appear that Mr. Caird of Muldoon has received:4101 new ap- pointment from the Woods and Forests, and that he is mereboonsulted en matters relating to Crown estates.
Mrs. Chisholm addressed a meeting at Edinburgh last week, On "the best means of promoting emigration in families to Australia?'
"An Englishman who desires the prayers of the Scotch Episcopal Church" has sent 70001. towards the building of the contemplated cathedral at In- verness.
While five men were descending the shaft of Cowdenheath colliery, near Dun ft•rmline, the rope broke, and they fell to a great depth. Three were killed on the spot, another died next day, and the case of the fifth is hope- less. The cage was a patent "safety " one, but the screw which should have stopped the descent was out of order and did not act.
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