The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-22 00:00:00

SCOTTISH BURGHS.

Lord A. Fl,vmtri tie had n Peti-
tion to present from a Synths,' Presbytery, which
wastage assembly of the clergy of different parishes
(in slue itestatice fourteen), convened in convocation,
ou behalf of their poorer fellow.countrymeii. The
Petition stated, first of all, that by the law and
pretence of their church-government, the clergy weer
bound to inform themselves of the condition and
eircomstaoicea of their pwishimirrs—That after
ierrrr•estiug an Address to the Throne, expressive
of their driermesiorion to rapport it and the con-
stitution, they thought it their duty I. lily to
relorerent to Parlinnvent the state of degradation.
misery, and wretchedness to whim le a large pare of
the country ass rednerd. It proceeded to state.
that the opulent had done all that they could to
alleviate the distresses of the labouring rlawesi—but
that their wants were too great and general to
be thee supplied—.that it was now impossible in
many Oases to rear a family—that /ewers' families
were bow disabled from attending (as try formerly
did, with great punctuality) divine service at the
churches lor want of ilecriet cheleing—and that
the education of their clalthrti was lwelmeing to be
neglected Crum the same cause. The Petitioners
the* exlue►seel their opicion, that a great twat 'of
the disaffection existing in the island had origi.
Paled in distress—and piayed the House to grant
whatever relief it might think expedient. lie
(Lewd A. Illansilten) was of epics 00000 , ilia there was
a great deal of waste lends si Scotland, and that
the proprietors were willine to make a sacrifice of
their OWO interests, provided slue Government would,
by reent;stitig the occupier' from the payment of
tsars and tithe*. or in some other ow, give a fa-
cility fur their cultivation, by the employment of
ilre emir. tie then moved that the Petition be
brought' up.
After a few remarks from Mr. KSNWEDtt• and
Sir 'W. de Cresaigely—
Lord CASTLERSAGII argued that the evil corn-
plained of was not rectsliar to Scoilassol, but existed
to as great a degree in other parts of the United
Kingdom. The question was, had the peoprortors
done all that tlw law allowed them to do l They
were certainly enabled by the law of Scotland to
essess•theinseletv. Its the year 1817 a
en Ibms and a half had been placed by Parliament
in the hands of Commissioners. to be leut out on
securities fur dirtying on public works ; be had the
saliefactuni to soy, that not lees than half a million
of it was yet trosapplird. and to obtain a loan from
it it was only iteceiwary (or the proprietors to assign
any seasonable security fur the payment its four or
five years. Ile believed it wits the intention of his
Right lion. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer) to make • motion to- row to take away any
legal difficulties which might occur to the effecting
of this during the vacation.
Mr. DOUGLAS alluded to the peculiar state of
Scotland. and hoped that souse mode would lee
adopted to give teller to the suffering poor of that
country. lie hoped. however, that mane arrange-
ment could be made to give this relief to tied poor
of Scotland, Without exposing that country to the
visitation of poor laws,
Mr. J. I'. GRANT said, that the state of distress
in which the poor of Scotland were placed required
serious attention. If the glory of the t &minty
were greet, mid had occasioned so much real be-
ne-fit to the community, it was time that thus ahn
slid not enjoy this community of benefit ►hould. at
least, have the advantage of deriving aid bean
More fortunate parts of the cominemity. There
were two observations suggested by the state of the
case. The first was, that the landed intete,t had
not the means or soetqing this evil : mid SO far
from its being the fact, that they were not anxious
to give relief, lee cou!el state, that. one indisidual
in the county from which the Petition came coma-
buted en/. per week. Ile dal not think a geortai
assessment a oulet meet the evil, unit lie certainly
complained that Guyer o tat land not earlier th-
, reeled their attention to the state of Scotland, and
considered the causes of the (Imitate►, as well as the
consequreices of then', bud led to tumult
and disorder.

Lard CASTLEREAGH thought it a little too herd
to expect that Engll.ll gentlemen should,
bun to the charge of their o*u IltlOf ISMS, take up.
ou themselves the suppuit of the poor bib Scutlaud,
where the gentry were not exposed to the ►u sue ea.
rtu
e.
?LLICE said, that though the advances were
to be miade uts local security, 3rt still some inquiry
ought lobate place into the causes which led to the
present distress, lie begged to take this opportu-
nity of stating, that since the Search fur Arar.s Rill
bad passed, a general search lied taken place in
Paisley, and uo arms had been found withiu the

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