EDINBURGH.—Monday was the last day allowed for giving in objec-
tions to the claims for registration. We have beard that about 1,450 objections have been lodged by Mr. Blair's Committee, and about 300 by that of the Lord Advocate and Mr. Abercromby. The ob- jections by the latter simply state the defects of the claims objected to ; but those by the Committee of Mr. Blair contain, in every case, all the objections, whether applicable or not, that come within the scope of the statute : for instance, in the case of a native of Edinburgh of seventy years of age, who qualifies as a tenant of premises which he has occupied for years, and produces his tax receipts, they object that be is an alien, a minor, and an idiot ; that he has not paid his taxes ; that he has not occu- pied the premises the sufficient time ; that he does not pay 10/. of rent, does
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not reside within the burgh, and a variety of equally inapplicable objec- tions. We consider this insulting to the electors, and can conceive no other motive for such a strange proceeding than that of confusing, and perplexing, and preventing them from going forward to establish a claim against which such innumerable objections are urged. We should think that it would have a contrary effect, and by raising their indigna- tion, make them only more determined to assert their rights to that franchise for which they had so long struggled. Objections, where well founded, are all very proper ; but to send to intelligent men such a string of manifest lies, and known to be lies, is really " too bad." Such a desire to narrow the constituency by unfounded objections, is not likely to conciliate the thinking people of Edinburgh, and must have the effect of inclining to the other party those who may have doubted in their choice before. We are led to. these remarks by having seen several of these objections, which were sent to individuals to whom they in no one point apply ; and we judge wrong of the Sheriff if he allows the time of the lieges, as well as his own time, to be wasted in going through such a number of mendacious documents.—Edinburgh Weekly Journal.
FORFARSHIRE.—Mr. Hallyburton has commenced his personal canvass of 'the new constituency. He has declared himself friendly to an amendment of the penal code, to free trade, to a fixed duty on the im- portation of corn, to a repeal of the taxes on knowledge, the abolition of all unmerited pensions and sinecures, and the repeal of ;he Septennial Act. On this subject he said, "he had heard and believed that a mea- sure would be brought forward limiting the duration of Parliament to four, certainly not more than five years." He said be would support the abolition of Negro slavery, but considered the slave-owners entitled to some compensation ; and he would support a modification of eccle- siastical establishments, and the abolition of the Church patronage. It is believed the honourable member will "walk the course."
PAISLEY.—Mr. J. M'Kerrell has declared himself a candidate.
PERTHSHIRE.—Connected with the contest for this county, the Caledonian Mercury has published the following amusing letter from Lord Balgray to the President of a Committee in Commie, a village in Perthshire, who had written to the " Paper Lord" requesting his as- sistance in order to the due celebration of the Reform Bill.
" For Mr. James M'Dougal, Comrie. " Lamers House, 9th August 1531
"'Sir—As I conceive the Reform Bill the greatest curse that ever was inflicted upon Scotland, and as I view it as fraught with every mischief antler the sun, I would crow. shier myself as a traitor to my country if I could rejoice upon any such occasion.
"It must grieve every good and reflecting mind, that such temporary delusion should have darkened the sound understanding of the people; but the time is not far distant when the veil will be withdrawn from their eyes, and nothing will follow but grief', disappointment, and, I have no doubt, repentance. I am, yours, Sc.
(Signed) "DAVID ROBERTSON YtILLIAMSON EWART."
The man who thus, with malice aforethought, writes himself down an ass, has been travelling the county in the train of Sir George Mur- ray, enforcing as far as he could the humble solicitations of his right honourable friend to the electors, under this very Bill, of which only " grief, disappointment, and repentance," are to be the issue. The disappointment of that perambulation will, it is now pretty well . ascertained, remain with Sir George; the repentance, we rather think, will fall to his Lordship's share ; the grief they can divide between them.
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