SCOTLAND.
The Times has recently had some forcible articles on the condition of the pauper population of Scotland; showing the inadequateness of the present mode of relief by "voluntary assessment," or collections in the churches and gifts from the lieritors: these amount to so trifling a sum' that the destitute are permitted, as a makeshift, to become beg,gars. To back its arguments, the Times has sent down a reporter to the North, to inquire on the spot into the working of this Poor-law, and into certain "clearances" which are taking place in the High- lands of Ross-shire. The correspondent sends reports accordingly, emulating those from Wales in style, but not in the novelty of the matter. Tile clearances, however, are bad enough. For instance, ninety-two people are to be sent adrift from Glen Calvie, a very poor district, which is to be made into a sheep-walk, in order that Mr. Gillanders the agent for the proprietor, Major Robertson, (who is with his regiment in Australia,) may squeeze a little more rent out of it. The poor people have paid their rent regularly and lived honestly, and have offered to pay as much rent as can otherwise be obtained for the land, but in vain. A few have been in some sort provided for by other holdings, but the prospect of most is miserable. Mr. Gillanders also intends "weeding out" sixteen families from Newmore, near Tain; and he has been noted for the practice on other estates.
Some years since, when bad seasons greatly distressed the Highlanders, sub- scriptions were made in England to relieve them. For two consecutive years, meal of the value of twenty pounds was given from that fund to the cottiers of Glen Calvie; and yet, says the writer in the Times, the heritor was paid his rent; and he did not abate sixpence, nor give a farthing towards the subscription. The sawyers of Glasgow who struck for an increase of wages have obtained their object in some degree; several of the masters have agreed to the increase asked by the workmen, and a number of the men have returned to their employment.
A fatal accident occurred on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on Monday Right Mr. Cooley, a Glasgow merchant, hired a special train to convey him to Edinburgh, on some pressing business: the engine did not make good speed, and near Edinburgh it was overtaken by a Glasgow train, which pierced through the carriage of the special one, and thus instantaneously crushed the unfortunate passenger to death. No other person was seriously hurt
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