SCOTLAND.
The annual Convention of the Royal Burghs of Scotland was held at Edinburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the motion of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, it was unanimously agreed that a loyal and dutiful address should be presented to her Majesty, praying her to give directions that the management of the legislative business connected with Scotland should be intrusted to a Secretary or Under-Secretary for Scotland, as was the case prior to 1746, and as is still the case in regard to the affairs of Ireland. The summary treatment of Scotch business in Parliament, and the heavy burden of legal duty, falling upon the Lord Advocate, were urged as reasons for this application. It was also resolved unani- mously, to express concurrence in a proposal to get up an Industrial Ex- hibition in Edinburgh in 1854.
A soiree in honour of Mrs. Beecher Stowe was held at Glasgow on the 15th, in the City Hall, which was filled by 2000 persons, chiefly ladies; Mr. M'Dowall presiding. Mr. Stowe, Professor of Theological Literature at the Andover Seminary in Massachusetts, was also present. Dr. Ward- law moved a long resolution, partly an eulogistic criticism of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and partly the expression of welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Stowe. This was seconded by Dr. Robson. Mr. Stowe subsequently spoke. He asked if all that affectionate interest in Mrs. Stowe was merited ? "I cannot help feeling in regard to that book, 'I don't 'spect anybody ever made that book, I 'spects it growcd.' Under the pressure of a horrid Fugitive Slave Law, the book sprang out of the soil ready- made." Two denominations, he said, the Scotch Seceders and the descend- ants of the old Scotch Covenanters, have never been silent regarding slavery; and there is not a Quaker who owns a slave. He looked upon the Fugi- tive Slave Law as the dying struggle of the system • and he predicted that
the planters must either extinguish slavery, or a system; revolution would. Mrs. Stowe retired early on account of the delicate state of her health. Besides the expression of welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Stowe, the meeting adopted a resolution against slavery.
. Edinburgh ;followed the lead of Glasgow on Wednesday, 'and enter- tained Mrs. Stowe at a grand banquet in the Music Hall ; the Lord Pro- vost presiding. A sum of 10001. collected under the title of the "Uncle Tom Penny Offering" was handed to Mrs. Stowe as the contribution of Scotland in behalf of the slave to be used at her discretion; and a silver salver, the gift of a few ladies, i s, was presented to her personally.
The Paisley weavers are attempting to obtain an advance of wages and a diminution of working-hours. Some manufacturers consented to give an increase of 10 per cent on wages ; but, at a meeting last week, the weavers resolved to ask for 20 per cent from the general body of em- ployers. The weavers also considered the question of shortening the hours of labour ; and ultimately resolved that the hours should be from six in the morning to eight in the evening, for the first year, beginning last Monday.
Some two years ago a " lady thief" was convicted at Glasgow, and sent to prison for a twelvemonth. 'Mrs. Smith," who indulged in divers other names occasionally, was in the habit of staying at hotels, and in the dead of the night stealing the property of other lodgers; and for a considerable time she escaped detection, several innocent servants having been discharged from their places on suspicion that they were the guilty persons. Recently Mrs. Smith 1188 resumed her depredations on the public, but in a genteeler way. Possessed of plausible manners, infinite assurance, and some respectable con- nexions, she turned swindler. She got possession of a good house at Glas- gow; hired a coach and coachman ; and patronized all kinds of tradesmen on an extensive scale, giving what appeared to be good reasons for requiring credit for a time, and proffering the highest "references." At length a gentleman she had referred to heard of the honour done him he happened to be president of a guardian society for the protection of trade; and the lady was speedily arrested for swindling.
Previous page
