The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1847.

SCOTLAND.

EDINIICROH, DEC. 22.
The Edinburgh presbytery of the established
church is the first, if not the only, public body in
Scotland that has taken up the subject of Jewish dis-
abilities. On a requisition of eight members an ex-
ceedingly thin meeting took place, when a motion
was made by Dr. Muir, of Edinburgh, to the effict
that to allow Jews to become members of the legis-
lature, would " form an act amounting to public
renunciation of the chief design of the British con-
stitution—above all to public irreligion—and so to
guilt, which is fitted to bring down on the
country the judgments of Almighty God. That ac-
cordingly the presbytery resolve, &c." Dr. Hunter
seconded this ungrammatical motion. An amend-
aent was moved "that no British subject ought to
suffer either tke forfeiture or the abridgmeat of his
civil rights on account of his religious opinions, and
that Jewish disabilities, being unnecessary, impolitic,
and unjust, ought to be removed." The amendment
received no seconder, the nearest approach to sym-
pathy with it being the negative declaration of an after-
speaker, that "the ministers of the presbytery had
duties enough to perform in their own parishes and
connected with the court without taking np their time
discussing the merits of the British constitution ;"
and accordingly a third motion was submitted, that
it was inexpedient for the presbytery to interfere in
the matter. The third motion also remaining an-
seconded. the first was carried.

As corrective of the petition of the presbytery of
Edinburgh in favour of Jewish disabilities, the town
council have unanimously petitioned for their re-
moval. At the municipal board no voice was lifted
up in favour of disabilities ; and the " religious argu-
ment " was dismissed very summarily by the lord pro
voet, who, in evident allusion to the proceedings of pres-
bytery, said that " much nonsense had been talked of a
Christian constitution, a thing which never had, and
never could, exist," and, seizing the weapons of the
reverend obstructor, he felicitously called on them to
"remember the punishments that befel the Baby-
lonians for treating the Jews with harshness and
severity."
On the subject of the Hebrew chair, the recent de-
cisions have satisfied neither of the contending par-
ties. The practical object sought by the church (the
exclusion of Mr. lilacdouall, a free-churchman)
' has been attained, but not in the way that the church
wanted. It wished to establish its own rower of
jurisdiction and civil complaint in cases of supposed
violation of the statutes imposing professorial tests,
and also sought the annulling of Mr. Msedouall's
election, on the ground of Hebrew being a branch of
theological teaching. The court has ruled against
both points : the duty of presbyteries in receiving
subscription to tests is held as being purely ministe-
rial, and the chair is set down as literary, not theolo-
gical. Mr. Mardonall's rejection being founded on
the simple statutory objection that, being a dissenter,
he will not conform to the established church. The
town council again are disappointed that n canon
practically in abeyance for at least half a century
should now be pointed against a given candidate, at
the mere bidding of a body who base allowed other
professors to walk through the portals of the univer-
sity undisturbed. The church, it is said, contemplates
appeal to the Mouse of Lords ; the temporal power,
less hasty, are " to consider." But before entering
the " bourne " of the last court of appeal, it is to be
hoped that the Lord Advocate will settle the contro-
versy by legislation.
Dr. Alison has represented to the Edinburgh an-
thoritien that, in preparation for the cholera, the city
should be divided into district!, small boards of healtlh
established in each, and also hospitals or quarantine
houses ; and, as such arrangements would require
time, he suggests a conference between the magis-
trates and a committee of the colleges of physicians
and surgeons, which has been ordered.
Some curiosity has been manifested whether the
Scotch episcopal church will interfere, by petition or
otherwise, with the Hampden election. Their prac-
tice in electing a bishop is primitive enough—the
clergy choosing. and the episcopal bench sanctioning,
although occasionally this simple procedure causes
disturbance. The whole of the Scotch bishops would
likely be against Dr. Hampden ; but, having no local
standing in the controversy, they may keep aloof,
especially as in the recent schisms from the Scotch
church the English bishops have done little or no-
thing to strengthen theirrorthcrn brethren in dealing
with their refractory presbyters. At present the Rev.
Sir W. Dauber has an action against Bishop Skinner,
the primes, for excommunicating him.
The regulation of time has been before the Glas-
gow town council, and has somewhat puzzled that
worthy body. The chairman of the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway suggested that the Glasgow clocks
should be altered to suit the new railway time, and
that the change should take place at 11 o'clock on
Saturday night. It was also intimated that Edin-
burgh would adopt this plan. One speaker sensibly
proposed that the suggestion should be agreed to,
otherwise a through passenger might, on arriving in
Edinburgh, find himself a quarter of an hoar too late
for a train. A second waggishly remarked that the
city clocks were so badly kept that no time could be
worse. A third talked gravely of astronomical and
navigation interest; and a fourth surpassed the whole
by &clariag that "the time of this city should be
exact astronomical time," and concluded by saying,
that "the time of high water might also be

affected"—a prophecy, which the concluding speaker
demolished, by averring that " the time of high water
at the Broonnelaw was as variable as the time shown
by the city clocks," wind and weather paying marvel-
lously little regard to tide-tables. Amidst so many
conflicting opinions, it was agreed that the matter
should lie over ; lead thus a question simple enough
in itself, but of great practical moment in the affairs
of every-day life, has been postponed for a week, if
not more. For all practical purposes mean or clock
time is sufficient, astronomical or apparent time, as
suggested by the Glasgow councillor, would bo absurd,
because it would involve incessant alterations in clocks
and watches. To adopt Greenwich mean time could
cause no inconvenience, if strictly kept by that stan-
dard ; and, as to mariners, the difference between
mean and apparent time being of more importance
to them than to any other class, they seldom trust to
clocks, but keep chronometers of their own.

HARROTJII B,ZPORT (Scoetasn).—Capt. Washington, in
his Hsrbeur Report Appendix, gives long lists of wrecks off
Dunbar, Peterheiul, and elsewhere, along the rest coast of
Scotland, and says that a reference to Lloyd's List will
show a loss of about 600 British ships every year; and, in-
clailingforeigners trading to this country, vessels not regis-
tered at Lloyd's and wrecks unrecorded, we shall not err
greatly in assuming the loos at two vessels a day throughout
the year, with life and property to a great extent. Another
authority gives the Amerman shipwrecks as one a day, not
that they are less numerous ix proportion, but because the
American marine is half that of Britain. As a remedy,
Capt. Washington proposes courts of inquiry to be held at
the recurrence of every shipwreck by the officers of the Coast
Guard, Customs, and Lloyd's agents. As illustrating the
' necessity of this and some other nautical reforms we shall
quote some of what Capt. Wsabington calls his "general
points" regarding Scotch harbours ;
Norara, Beers, sane DABT.—Without including the numerous in-
lets on the west coma of Sullierlandshire, the Hebrides, and the
Orkney and Sheba d ides, there are 110 harbours, et which dues are
levied under authority of ancient charters, acts of parliimeet, he.
The whole Income miring from this source amounts to ab0u1194,0001.
a year ; the debt at the Mom of the yea. 1846 was 1,366,490/., or
eight times the revenue At five per cent. the Interest amounts to
76,7871., err more than a third of the income.
Moremo fermarrice—The shipping belonging to the different roes
consists in 3,623 meals, of 503,040 tons ; while the annual arrivals
and millings of vessels carrying cargo, which indicate the chief tram:,
are 52,817 Yawls of 4,873,574 tons. The gross customs duty during
the year 1845 was little short of two millions alerting.
Pereviancis or Turne.-7Th traffic is exclusive of mauls In
ballast, Bee eyer steamers, ships of war, revenue cruisers, and
wagers carrying stone, lime, dos; and these, including the daily
trips of steamers, swell the whole te the large number of 130.000 ar-
rivals and sailing. annually. It is elm independent of the fisheries
around the toasts, which, even in their pnsent Imperfectly developed
state, and althongh cramped by the want of eheltered harbours, piers,
and landing places, employ 10,535 boats manned by 40,738 men and
bare besides 32,270 taus of shipping occupied In the currying trade
immediately in connection with the thbery. The ml number of ar-
rivals during the year 1848 wan 80,000 of 11,300,000 toms, more than
one-half of which were steamers; and it is for this Usffia, and as
equal amount of saltines, that the harbour accommodation of space
and wharfage must be provided and maintained. The total number
of seamen in Scotland would appear to be about 40,000, not including
41,000 men and boys employed m the fisheries.
Ballast is thrown eve, board In the neighboarbood of harbours to a
dangerous extent. Remedy : vessels not to be cleared out unless as
be given of ballmt.
persona laorenvo arm BCOTAO. —To light the mainland,
Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides, and outlying rocks arid (allude (an
extent, measuring roughly, of about 1,200 mites), there are TAX
emirate coast lights maintained by the Commirdoners of N
Lights. On the toast of Caithness, end on the west oust of Suther-
land, Rosa, and Imensess, there are dletances of GO, 70, and 80 miles
without a light. The Sound. of Mull, Skye, Mier, and Loch Ell (the
multoweetern approach to the Caledonian Canal) are entirely without
lights. Alm the natural harbours of refuge, :deplane., Campbelysern,
and loch Roan, are in a similar manner almost unavailable by night
The state niche buoyage, in September and October, 1846, was even
more defective, and with less excuse, as buoys and beacons can be
placed at a trifling expense. The light does on touting vesaels in
Scotland have been lowered SO per cent during the put •ear ; but the
sum of 47,8951., which was the gross income of the Board of Northern
lights during the year 1846, would surely entitle the mariner to
demand the expenditure of a few hundred pounds, in order to place
the necemary buoys and beacon. around the coasted Scotland.
Isesocrasm or Curears—All the Marts in general use on board
merehant mewls with Yemen to the poeition end clumeter of lights,
buoys, beacons, Re., are without exception faulty, and all, if followed,
are liable to lead' ship Into difficulty. In rase of the charts of the
coast of doodled that I hare examined were the recently placed lights
buena Re., Maned, and in many botunors the description, of the
lights were erroneous. I wood submit that in •mu in which the
esfety of life to involved, It would be proper to oblige all chart sellers
to warrant their chard corrected up to the latest date with respect to
lights and boom, ander a heavy penalty.
PUBLIC Gassers sea roam Unury.—The on'y public money laid
out in the several harbours of Scotland (besides the fl deferred "
quart-r of a million at Leith) has been 30,0001. out of the balance
arising from the Forfeited Feat. Fund, about 11,0001. onntributed
by the Convention of the Royal Burgha, and about 45,0001. expended
ounce 1130 by the Board of British Firherle'. Trite lest-named grunt,
which has been met, generally speaking, by a similar sum contrimted
by the local interest, his been of great benefit. It is hardly med.:bit
that the small rum of 2,500/. myear devoted to building piers and
harbours Mould have given 110 great a stimulus to important load
improvements es these grants are found to hare done. Even the
teatime aid of furaishing a film or survey ha often induced parties to
begin improvements which otherwise might have remained for years
untouched.

On the question of remedial measures, premising that,
after all, " Scottish ports are generally better managed than
those on other parts of the coasts of the United Kingdom,"
Captain Washington is still for governmental 'supervision,
and on this head remarks :
As to the neecesity of some general and Independent control over
barboore, It Is right to state that the collectors of custom% and
Lloyd's agents throughout Scotland were almost to • moan In favonr of
such a measure, supporting their opinions by additional facts and
arguments derived from their local experience around the coast. Of
the 32 harbour-Wards, town councils, &c. who gave an opinion on
the subject, 15 were in favour of the proposid principle, and 17 de-
cidedly opposed to any control over their proceedings. As a summary
for Scotland, it appeared that of the 92 rorporate bodice, stia=
companies, and individuals who expreared any opinion for OT
66 were in favour of the principle of supervision recommended to
the first and aecond reports of this commission, and 26 opposed to
control hatch".
As to special methods of relief;
The measure that was mom Iltquently urged in the aeons, of in-
quiry was an earnest request that in the same manner EA advanee•
under the Drainage Act have been made byparliansot to the landed
proprietors of the United Kingdom, her Majesty's government would
consent to advance money, at • low rate of interest, to pay off the
harbour debt in all them cases in which, on due inquiry, It could
be shown that the debt bad been contracted In carrying out works
which may be fairly considered as public improvement.
It may also be added that Capt. Washington recom-
mends that all pilots should be licensed, and their dues made
compulsory.

ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH BRITISH RAILWAT.—On
Tuesday night an engine, in charge of a stoker, was proceed-
ing from Meadowbank to Edinburgh, a distance of about a 1
mile, when it was overtaken by a luggage-train upon the
same line of rails. The co/mu-ion was considerable, hut not
such as to damage material'y either of the engines. The
stoker, it is supposed, fell from the engine, in coneequenee of
the force of the collision; and, not being reversed, the engine
ran into the station at the North Bridge, where it came in
contact with four Imogene. These it dashed in pieces, and
drove In great violence against the stetne sapp one of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow railway station, where it was
brought to a stand-still. In addition to the demolition of
the truck., a east-iron pillar in the station was driven down.
Greet as the damage unquestionably is, it would have been
greater had the engine happened to be on any of the aide
rails, instead of the centre one, as in that cue it would have I
done sad havoc on the passenger carriage., which generally
stand ranged on each side of the the station-house. The
stoker, we learn, is injured by the fall, but not severely. I
STORY AND BHIPWRECI.—A correspondent of the
Greenock Advertiser writes : " One of the most fearful
gales experienced at Ardrishaig for the last thirty year
ocrurred on Friday lest. The storm commenced at south
about midnight, and continued without intermission the
whole day, increasing ea the day advanced. The sea was one
sheet of foam, tearing everything before it. The pavement of
the pier was all washed out by the billows, the lighthouse
even began to give way, and a house at the head of the pier
was completely unroofed. Many breastworka by the sea-side,
which have stood the test for 32 year of the tempestuous
ocean, were washed away, One or two families had to
I leave their houses, and the street, in some parts, was ren-
dered impuuble by the sea lashing up over it, at the same
' time heaving up along with it large atones and wreck. A
but pained about 2 p.m., driving before the fury of the
storm, and was immediately hauled up by the fishermen,
and proved to be driven from the neighbourhood of Terbevt.
Another boat hauled up on the beach was driven by the
wind over and over, and was broken to pieces. It moderated
about 10 p.m., the wind shifting up to W.N.W. One of the
large windows in the West Church, Greenock, was blown in.