EDINBURGH.—Mr.Robert Adam Dundas has resigned Edinburgh ! Shade of "
Old Harry!" and is it come to this at last? Was the final passing away of that influence which has held Scotland in awe for so many years accompanied by no sympathizing convulsion of afflicted na- ture? Did the spirit of Conservation let fall no tears when the fatal billet was unsealed? Has the pillar in St. Andrew's Square been in- spected? Is there no rent in its ponderous base? Is the Castle Rock still standing? The Scotsman says the Council were surprised when they heard of Mr. Dundas's resolution: " surprised!" what a cold tame word ! ••We should be surprised if the very walls of the Council Chamber abstained from emitting sounds of dolour on the melancholy occasion. No doubt, the Radical journalist has purposely suppressed the feelings of the worthy ancients. They musrhave been -agitated beyond mortal measure. And who shall blame their agony? When the Dundas fails, can the Council stand ? They have flourished to- gether, and together they must be content to fade. When Robin, ti e head, departs, can Allan-a-dale and his band of servitors hope to remain ? GLASGOW.—The Glasgow Chronicle notices that Mr. Ciawfurd has improved remarkably in the art of addreesing an assembly, since his former meetings with the Glasgow constititency. His supposed de4-
cieney as a public speaker, had been the main objection to this well- informed and business-accomplished candidate : how, it appears, he is found possessed not only of most excellent matter, but of a tongue to
give it utterance. Besides being full of knowledge, his speeches are distinguished for tact and good humour. From the first of a SeCond: series of addresses delivered by Mr. Crawfurd to the electors and non= electors, we take the following remarks on Pledges— He was ready to pledge himself to whatever was constitutional, practicabfe, just, and proper, and he was surprised that any one should refuse pledges under such circumstances. Ile would now enumerate a few of the things to which lie teas :willing to pledge himself, if returned to Parliament, Iu the first place, if they sent hunt to Parliament, he would, when a majority of his constituents signified, in whatever manner they chose to ascertain it, th.t he no longer held their confidence, that day and that hour he would restore the trust into their hands. When lately absent, he had taken great pains to inquire whether it was the practice to exact pledges in the United States, when he found that there were no pledges, and that personal canvassing was discreditable. This would be the cue here also,when Parliaments were of two or floes years' standing. Till then, pledges were indispensable, unless Reformers meant to give the Con- formers all their own way. It was said there was no legal proviSion for retiring from Parliament. lie did not know what they called a legal provision, but for eighty years there had been a very easy way of accomplisiting the matter. They - had all beard of the Chiltern Hundreds, the appointment to the stewardship of which was in the Crown, with a salary of hies. a year very badly paid. This office he would accept, and he believed it was the only office the Government was ever likely to off:r him. He would accept this, and so might any one who thought proper to do so. The second point to which he would allude was the duration of Parliaments. The Septennial Ae• was at usurpation, he was sorry to , say, of the Whigs—it was all the work of the Whigs, and tins little snore than one century :0.1. His most strenonns &or: -; would be diremed to eGet- v retorts to triennial Pat liaments. Ills best endeavours would be devoted ap pot en end to all monopolies tvhich privileged the few at the expense of the many ; the fruitful sources of dearness, scarcity, and uncertainty, as had been remarked la a celebrated statesman. The greatest and worst monopoly was that of Corn. lie would do his utmost to procure the unconditional repeal of this abomination, and of the monopolies of Timber, of Sugar, of Coffee, and of the Bank of Eng.-- land, which his would endeavour to get completely separated from the State. He would support the total abolition of tithes, and in due time the d sconnexion of the Church:tad State. He would use hi: utumq endeavour to per eure the abo- lition of that disgraceful, brutal, oligarchical, aristorratiral, and unconstitutional.. practice—lie used the hardest wools he could find—of dogging in the Army and Navy, and impressment in the Navy, which was still more brutal and aristocra- tical. If lie had mnitted any thing, he hoped some kind friends would suggest them to him. (" East India nomopolv.") Mr. Crawford said he had entirely- forgot that, which was a great favourite with hum ; and he would also support the total and immediate abolition of slavery. He wished them thoroughly to understand, and he would now explain, what he meant by pledges. - He meant them to understand that he expressed his full opinion and conviction, that his mind was nettle up on the subject,:, and lie would use leis best elf. n Is, in proper time and in proper place, to carry them into effect. Ile wished to guard him- self in this, that lie would promote thou in proper time and-plaec, not out of time and place. Ile 1)6111:n1st:1f in honour bound to carry them into effect ;;• but if he did so out of time and place, as well as in, he had so much experience of business as to know that he would thereby do much more mischief than good.
This is a sensible view of the subject. The first thing promised—, namely, to vacate his seat when his constituents have lost confidence irt him—is what every man of honour would feel impelled to do, whether pledged or not. We are happy to find that the Reform candidates intend to adopt means in common in order to ascertain which two are the choice of the people, and this being ascertained, those that are not will honestly withdraw, and not injure their competitors by fruitless competition. One plan suggested is to ballot the electors by districts; and certainly nothing fairer or more effective can be devised. It is that Which we several weeks ago recommended in all boroughs where there was a competition of Reformers.
STIRLING BOROUGHS.—Lord Dalmeny, eldest son of the Earl of Roseberry, has started for these boroughs, in opposition to Mr. JOhn- stone of Straiton. That gentleman was one of the figurers at the Edinburgh Conservative meeting with for the purpose of petitioning against what is called the war with Holland. By what means Mr- Johnstone, who has been always looked on as a stout though somewhat blundering Reformer, contrived to fall into so open and apparent a pit as that of the pretended Anti-war party, we cannot guess; but having done so with his eyes open, he must even be left in the puddle. Lord Dalmeny will in all probability walk the course. The boroughs, even in their close state, rejected Mr. Downie for his Tory principles, and • it is not very likely they will, in their open state, scruple to reject Mr- Johnstone. Besides, Mr. Downie was honest in his course, though his course was not an honest one—he did not pretend to be a Reformer= and avowed himself a jobber.
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