SCOTLAND.
A memorial was last week forwarded to Lord John Russell by the Glasgow Reform Committee, transmitting for his consideration a copy of a petition which, a year ago, through the city Members, was presented to the House of Commons, praying for a comprehensive scheme of re- form. Referring to his Lordship's exposition of the Government mea- sure introduced on the let of March instant, expressing their sense of its value as far as it goes, and their desire to see it speedily passed into law, they regret that the Government do not at this time proceed still further towards the accomplishitent of the views held by the large majority of the adult male population of these realms. On Tuesday, a letter was received containing Lord John Russell's acknowledgment of the memo- rial, conveying his thanks to the Glasgow Reform Committee, and the satisfaction with which he has received this expression of their opinion with regard to the measure of Parliamentary Reform lately introduced, and with regard to his own public services.
The petition of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Reform Committee to the House of Commons, prays for the principle of disfranchisement being carried out by grouping together the small English boroughs the same as in Scotland, vote by ballot, the 408. freehold, and that the Reform Bill before the House be not curtailed, but enlarged in the directions in- dicated.
A Synod of the Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church was held at Edinburgh, on Thursday the 15th instant, to give judgment in the case of the Bishop of Brechin. The " presentment " or charge against the Bishop of Brechin was, his having taught in'a primary charge delivered to his clergy in August 1857,—lst, that the sacrifice of the Eucharist is identical with the sacrifice of the Cross ; 2d, that adoration is due to Christ, as in or under the consecrated elements of blood and wine ; and 3d, that there is a reception of Christ by the wicked ; and by said teach- ing he was charged with depraving the articles of religion, the Scotch communion-office, and other formularies of the church. In consideration of explanations and modifications offered by the respondent, the College of Bishops limited their sentence to a declaration of censure and admo- nition. "And we do now solemnly admonish, and in all brotherly love entreat, the Bishop of Brechin to be more careful for the future, so that no fresh occasion may be given for trouble and offence, such as has arisen from the delivewy and publication of the primary charge to his clergy complained of in the presentment."
A crowd assembled on Sunday, in St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Nethergate, Dundee, to see two young ladies "take the veil." The candidates first appeared dressed as brides, attended by nuns in black robes and linen stvathed faces. The ceremony was performed with all the customary gorgeous paraphernalia of the Roman Catholic Church. At the fitting moment, the young ladies underwent the usual metamor- phosis, and appeared in cemplete monastic habits to receive the veil from the hands of the bishop.
There is a convent in Dundee, with its cells, nuns, schools, and cha- pel, an offshoot of a larger one at Wellburn, Lochee.
The University of St. Andrews has conferred the degree of LL.D. upon Professor Craik of Belfast, and upon the Reverend John Robertson, of the High Church, Glasgow, the degree of D.D.
A meeting of influential citizens was held on Tuesday in the Council Hall, Glasgow, to make arrangements for the forthcoming meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, which will be held in that city on the 24th of September next.
The movement in favour of drill in schools is spreading in Aberdeen. At Robert Gordon's Hospital, drill has for years formed part of the "curriculum," and, occasionally at least, also at the Gymnasium. It has, however, lately been introduced into one or two of our ordinary seminaries.—Aberdeen Journal.
The tides were at unusually low ebbs in Loehryan last week—so much so that many of the finest oysters were picked off places which had not been dry for some years.
The net fishings in the Tweed continue very unproductive. One water in our immediate neighbourhood is reported to have caught two salmon only throughout the past period of the season.—.Berwick Advertiser.
About eight o'clock on the 16th instant, the shock of an earthquake was felt in the valley of Upper Strathearn. The shook was more distinctly felt about Camine.
In Scotland we have still some 2500 million tons of coals, or enough at our present consumption to last for about 330 years. Turning to England, we find one of the most recent estimates, giving 5122 million tons of coal as the quantity of accessible and saleable coal in the Newcastle and Durham fields, which, at the present rate of production, or sixteen million tons, would last for about 300 years.—Seoteman.
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