SCOTLAND.
A meeting of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr was held in the Tron Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday week : in which an overture from the Presbytery of Paisley on the subject of lay patronage, led to a long and interesting discussion. It will be recollected that the General Assem- bly some time ago gave the communicants of the Church a veto on the minister presented to the living by the lay patron. The veto is abso- lute, and no reasons for the minister's exclusion need beassigned. The clergy are dissatisfied with the manner in which it has operated; alleging that it leads to capricious rejections, fills the parishes with animosities, and, from the defective machinery of its forms, produces positive injustice. Dr. Burns alleged that in three cases, lately occur- ring in Dumfriesshire, the decisions of the Presbytery " have turned entirely on the votes of the dead." The overture moved by Dr. Burns, therefore, proposed that the General Assembly should renew their protest against the existing system of patronage itself, and they should appoint a committee to take the subject of parish settlements into consideration, and lay the sentiments of the Church on this question before Government and the Legislature. The real import of the mo- tion was to express an opinion against lay patronage, and move the General Assembly to take measures for its abolition. The motion was opposed chiefly on the grounds that the veto had not yet had fair play ; that sufficient time had not been allowed to accustom the people to its exercise ; and that with proper forms, and after due experience, it will be found sufficient to place the election of ministers essentially in the hands of the people. It will lead patrons to consult the people before they name the presentee, and thus produce harmonious settle- ments and the introduction of efficient ministers into the Church. The vote is reported to have been as follows : for the motion of Dr. Burns, 43; against it, 36; being a majority of seven against the continuance lay patronage.— Courier.
At the same meeting, the Synod, after a strong debate, and a cutting speech from Mr Brewster, agreed to censure that gentleman for attend- ing the Glasgow dinner to O'Connell. Mr. Brewster protested against the sentence, and appealed to the General Assembly. The superiority of Mr. Brewster's talents and the purity of his moral cha- racter were admitted by all his opponents.
Sir William Hamilton and Mr. George Combe are candidates for the vacant chair of logic in the University of Edinburgh. The hand-loom weavers, certainly the worst paid of any of their brethren of the working classes, have lately obtained a considerable rise of wages. In the county of Fife, the weavers of bed-ticks have obtained 10 per cent. advance, and on dowlas and other coarse fabrics fully NI per cent. This speaks well for the state of the linen maim- facture.—Scotsman.
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