The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-17 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

EDINBOROIT, SEPT. I.S.
To-day, the Scotsman opens on the Highland Des-
titution Board, and discharges a volley of statistics
with the effect and precision of a skilful engineer
having a park of artillery at command. Here is a
precis of his article: assuming that 30,0001. should
have been the amount really necessary for the desti-
tution of the three highland counties of Roes, Inver-
ness, and Argyle, during the past year, it is held that
this sum should have been raised by the highland
proprietors themselves, and not extorted from lowland
benevolence. And, in proof of this position, it is
stated that from 1836 to 1841, in the hundred and
thirty-one parishes composing these counties, there
was no legal assessment for the poor. More strictly,
one parish had such an assessment, four had it occa-
sionally, and twenty-five had intermittent voluntary
imposts. In the parish of Portree, a great place for
destitution, there is no assessment, voluntary or com-
pulsory, and the amount collected at the church doors
for parochial purposes, varies from 41. to 5/. per annnm.
Duirinish, with a costly population of 5,000, is in the
name happy condition, with a maximum ecclesiastical
offering of 71. So much for positive, now for comparative,
figures. The single agricultural county of Roxburgh
raises more money for the poor than the whole of the
six shires that compose " the Highlands" put toge-
ther. Again, the monies raised by the three counties
is only one fifth of the sum raised by the city of Edin-
burgh proper. Now for what "the Highlands" could
do. The annual rental of the three destitution counties
is valued for property tax at 570,0001., which, at
Is. Id. per pound, would yield 31,2001. After this
expose it is probable that the "modern Athenians,"
with a poor rate of half-a-crown per pound, will
likely tell the Highland collectors to " come nae
mair to their toun," thus leaving the " Macduffs "
and the other clans to " lay on " upon themselves.
In the interim, the surplus fund in the hands of the
committee will stave off any immediate demand, but
it will be for the committee wisely to consider
how they are to demit themselves of the trust
reposed in them, so as to keep entire
that feeling of responsibility that ought to
be associated with ownership of soiL One small
item of expenditure has been suggested which is de-
serving of attention, viz., that the nets, sails, &c., of
the Orkney and Shetland fishermen, lost in the late
storms, should be replaced.
As connected with this topic, an instance of judi-
cious benevolence is reported from Ayrshire. In my
last some parties there subscribed to procure Den-
mark seed potatoes to be given to necessitous persons.
Moat of the parties supplied were widows, ant on
being inspected last week it was found that every
peek planted had yielded twelve pecks of crop.
Apart from local considerations, the prospect of a
revival of the Scotch Marriage and Registration Bills
is rendered more probable from the circumstance of
English agricultural statistics being proposed to be
collected, by the aid of the registrars, in which case it
would, for the sake of uniformity, be desirable, if the
Scotch statistics were obtained by similar machi-
nery. Probably the parish schoolmasters, busied
with the privy council education minutes, would be
less disposed to opposition than before. But without
anticipating the future, it is bat fair to call attention
to a real grievance presently borne by many of that
body in relation to the irsoome-tax. A oarrespoodent
of the Ayr Observer writes:
Very few with whoolmaies have 1501.. therathaeme—gethope
not above me or two la a ematy ; yet in this math *ryas so
leeted to the tax retard thrall Items deem disk sahebs byet
ter=ithe eth th
thasaree& bale& de met &du
gbathslati=la le le mamas las-thearer to re-
that le rdthlt he his nth *ht. We there are lathe
eirm4 d Ayr 70 porlah seletheralthe at the swage Wiry OWL,
W laesthedax donee& k One areenale M OIL as piety.
shamse ler se the tax b rdtheal ken Se
II It le la Man
het le thee, theme the leethle et plebs It leek is re Feet
as le watwelek the rake wary dalmale ash ; red la se
Ith se the prepthelars seas Meth the biz * the Wed% the
eirewa Y he be the rid ger Me Iha oweraithat
theareo. la the math et ellthiskaa. thethreeirsoa
aid tremble. hos. tan the feet thew lath avedid. by a
ethaleZthat Melded by the kw& at lthearethr
fete ere the wroth ea), and resilithel brae wins-
meth vth. the Wades wth k the oar mow with
the lehrlall ens the reriths es width the la le lethal
tea the peeeltheth &tab lax alms Math Iris pwerant,
Wahl nth tles theewtheleitere Is s eamth aertssetlebelldied to
- a thallar arraagement la Ode aeller, eehalYi lhe hwthre of
thee d thew ro deserving, sad Mhe are by as ahmsevaigoad
The disappointment Othleaththadi by the postponement
of kidlle. Lind's concert hes eassed so much excite-
meta, that to-day the commotfttee are to return the
tickets to the discontented, and to reissue them to
fresh applicants. As there has been nothing talked
of in connexion with these tickets but discount, par,
and premium, it is difficult to conjecture how all these
changes may affect the attendance to-morrow evening.
Although watched for in the streets, the nightingale
is not the object of such prurient curiosity as appears
to have annoyed her in other towns.

Ma. COWAN, M.P.—While indulging to a few moaning''
and reviling* over the utter defeat of the Agnewites at the
recent meeting of the North Britiah Railway Company, the
Wanes* angrily demands, ° Where was oar member, Mr.
Cowan t We know ha was expected to second the sitation.
We saw him et the meeting. Where was he, thee, at

the Sabbath debate took place ?" We believe we ass answer
the question. Mr. Cowan was whee Meagre. Bleckadder
and Bridges should have been—attendinL; his own busi-
ness. As soon as " the Sabbath debate" an, ;fr. Cowan
made for the door, hotly pursued by Mr. lackadder, who
hung upon him beseechingly, but in nin—the M.P. shook
him off; and he was left lamenting. We are glad to be able
to mention an incident so much to Mr. Cowan's credit, espe-
cially as he needs it as a sort of offset against the discredit
due to him for his remarks at the late meeting of the Edin-
bwgh and Glasgow Company.—ScoUmon,
Dt!MFIIIEd SAYINGS BANC—At a meeting of the depo-
sitors, held in August, 1846, it was agreed to erect a building
at once suitable for the increasing business of the bank, and
at the same time, from iturchiteeural character, as a mono-
ment to the memory of the Rev. Henry Duncan, the father
of savings banks. A committee was appointed to see the
same carried into effect. Since that time the committee have
bees unremitting in their endeavours to procure subscrip-
tions, that the building might be made as elegant as possible.
It will consist of two stories ; the ground fiat to contain the
necessary accommodation for c inductine the business of the
bank, including a book and money safe-room ; the upper flat
will be formed into a dwelling-house. The front will be
Made highly ornamental, with a niche in the centre, to be
occupied by a statue of the late pastor of ltuthwell.
A CLERICAL CONTROVERCY.—The dispute which the
Rev. Mr. Campbell, of America, and the Rev. James Robert-
son, Edinburgh, have been engaged in, has terminated, for
the present, in the former being lodged in Glasgow gaol
at the instance of the latter. An action had been raised
against

the American for defamation, concluding for 5,000/.
damages, and as there was reason to believe he was about to
leave theeountry, the warrant forcomreitment was obtained.
We understand Mr. Campbell refuses the aid of his friends
as security for his appearance, and is content to remain in
his new abode till the matter be judicially settled.—
Densdee Warder. Yesterday this ease came before
Lord Murray, as lord ordinary, on the bills, by a
seta of suspension and liberation, presented on behalf of
Mr. Campbell. Mr. James Moncreiff was heard in sup-
port of the note, and Mr. Penney fur Mr. Robertson. The
Lord Ordinary then pronounced an interlocutor to the effect
that the statement tendered on oath before the sheriff
of Glasgow, and in •irtue of which that magistrate had
granted a warrant meditatione fuga, was not of a suffi-
ciently definite character to justify the Paine. Mr. Campbell
will, therefore, he immediately set at liberty. We under-
stand that the Lord Ordinary, in a note, expressed great
I doubts whether, supposing the statement on oath had been
more definite in its nature, the eau would have warranted
the incarceration of a foreigner meditating flight. This in-
terlocutor, while it gives Mr. Campbell freedom, dues not,
of course, affect the merits of the case at issue between the
parties.—Edinburgh Advertiser.
DEEP-rats Fieutwo.—ln the bays of S iltcoats. Ardros-
tan, and Port Crawford, the take of mackerel this nenson
has been greater thaw for a long number of years. They
came in about six weeks ago, and are continuing since. For
about 21 days, at different times during that period, each of
the boats would, oa an average, get from GO to 80 per day ;
in several instances, 00 and 100; in a few eases, even far be-
yond that. They were ell good in quality. and cenerally
large in size. They are retailing from 1 ad. to 3d. each.
Success in the fishing at these places is desirable, from the
circumstance that so many individuals derive their principal
support from that Nauru, as well as the present and long-
eoatinued high price of flesh mat; and besides, that fish is
not only generally appreciated, but found the most whole-
some of food. Lobster fishing hu been backward, also
Ramon. At Saltroats several days lately there was a take
of them from 50 to 70. There have been no whitings or
haddocks got lately, but they are beginning to appear.