The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-02 00:00:00

ROYAL PA.TRIOTIC SOCIETY OF

SCOTLAND.
The second ~.nnual meeting of the Landau branch
of this sooleiT, fbr iinpovii-q the condition of the
labourinrw' classes, especially of the Highland fisher-
men and peasantry, which is under the joint patro-
nage of her Majesty the QueQn and of Prince Albert,
was hell on Tuesday, at the London Tavern ; the
Right Han. the Lord Mayor (Sir James Duke, M.P.)
in the chair. Among other gentlemen who were
present, we olserved Poulett Scrape, Esq., M.P.,
Thomas Berningham, E• 41., George 11,iin, Esq.,
Charles Forbes, Eq., Rev. Mr. Ilamilton, James
Malcolmson, Esq., Captain Bellew, Charles Macken
zie, Esq., of Scotsburn ; Rev. Mr. Fisher, Daniel
Davidson, Esq., Dempster, Esq., &c.
The LORD Mayon, on taking the chair was very
cordially received. He was very sorry that he had
been called away on his reaching the Mansion-house
(after being at the table of the House of Commons
as Member for the City). He had been obliged to go
to Guildhall, to hold a Court there, and he hoped

that circumstance would be accepted as his apology
for having delayed the meeting.—(Hear, hear.) lie
wes always very much gratified to have an opportu-
nity of taking the chair on any occasion where his
fellow-citizens thought he would be useful. He re-
gretted that he had been so much occupied of late
that he could not make himself so well informed as

he ought to be with the details of this society ; but
his deficiency would be made up by 'the more able
remarks of many gentlemen whom he saw around
him. lie would beg to call on Mr. Forbes to address
the meeting.
Mr. CHARLES FORBES said that his first office was
to read the report of the committee. The report
stated that the London branch of the society was es-
tablished in March, 1848. The committee regretted
that the primary object of its formation, namely,
that of augmenting the funds of the parent society,
had been less successfully carried out than they
hilh
trusted it would be i.,,lfutu!?..,yebairivi truh,ith(!ughort a
possessed by the parent society had been contributed
in the south, yet the amount subscribed during the
year ending March, 1849, in connexion with this
auxiliary branch, amounted to 801. 9s. only; which,
deducting the charge for printing, advertising,
and incidental expenses, left a clear sum of 501. 9s. 11d.;
that as the existence of the parent society depended at
this crisis in its history upon the pecuniary aid which
it derived from the London auxiliary branch, the com-
mittee trusted that the current year would be charac-
terised by more liberal aid to enable it to carry out
its highly necessary and beneficial objects. The com-
mittee regretted that a portion of the fund held by the
British Relief Association had not been devoted to the
praiseworthy and legitimate object of enabling the
parent society, by the extension of its permanent im-
provements in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland,
to obviate the destitution which there prevailed, with-
out any prospect of abatement ; and that as considerable
relief balances remained in the hands of the commit-
tees in Scotland, the committee hoped that while an
effort would be made by the friends of the society in
the south to enable it to carry out its benevolent
agency into the destitute districts without a week's
delay, the Highland relief committees referred to
would appropriate a portion of their funds to the pro-
motion of this society's permanent rural and fishery
improvements, and not allow the whole of the muni-
ficent contributions which had been made for the

relief of Highland destitution to be consumed, with
out securing the germs of future amelioration in the
condition of that peaceful and loyal portion of the
community. The report concluded by stating that
James Matheson, Esq., M.P., was proposed as presi-
dent for the current year, and returning thanks to
the Lord Mayor for presiding on this occasion, and
expressing a hope that he would consent to become
the first annual president. Having read the report,
Mr. Forbes observed that it was unnecessary for him
to say anything further, as the report embodied all
he could state. He could, therefore only express his
own feelings. He believed he was surrounded by
those who, without reference to country, wished well
to the poor Gael.—(Hear.) The objects of the society
were so well put forth in various ways, especially in
the Industrial Magazine of the society, edited by their
secretary, Mr. Bond, as to show the vast utility of the
society. These channels of communication ex-
plained the amount of destitution which had taken
place in the Highlands, which now pervaded the High-
lands and Islands of Scotland, and which would con-
tinue unless assistance were promptly given. The
case of these afflicted, but patient people, was one
which could not fail to excite general sympathy.
With regard to the appointment of a president for
the current year, he had been requested by the
committee to wait upon the Earl of Aberdeen. He
had received a communication from that nobleman,
couched in the kindest terms, expressing the great
interest he felt in this institution, at the same time
regretting his inability to accept the office of second
president of the parent society. This had led to Mr.
Matheson being requested to accept the office, and
that gentleman had undertaken it.
The CHAIRMAN here referred to letters of apology
for unavoidable absence from his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Montrose, the Mar-
quis of Abercorn, Mr. Matheson, M.P., The Chis-
holm, &c.
The SEC RETAILY read a very interesting letter from
Dr. Mackenzie, the honorary secretary of the parent
society, detailing the immense amount of benefit
which the society's plans had effected in districts
where they had been tried, but at the same time con-
veying great apprehensions in respect to large dis-
tricts, where the prospect for the ensuing winter was
dreadful. Letters also confirming the utility, of the
society's measures were read from the Rev. Mr. La-
mont, of Skye, and the Rev. Dr. API-slay. The amount
of destitution appeared to be incalculable ; and from
the patience with which famine was endured, the
extent of the evil was not known in many parts even
of Scotland.
Mr. Y. SC ROPE, in moving the adoption of the re-
port, begged to express the great delight he felt at
the contents of the communications which had been
read by the secretary, not only with a view to the
Scotch peasantry, but because he hoped that the ex-
ample which had been set by this society would be
followed up in England, and extended to Ireland. He
had long been convinced that they were all embarked
in the same boat as to the object they had in view.
Now it was vain to attempt to relieve the condition
of the working classes in this country, unless they
first relieved the wants of the labourers of Ireland and
Scotland, who were compelled to come to England,
and deteriorate the value of labour of English work-
ing people. How was this to be done ? Not by any
eleemosynary system of relief, even though carried to
the liberal extent it had been. But the best thing to
do first was to teach the poor people to be self-sup-
porting, and to derive their existence from the soil of
their own country. They should be taught to culti-
vate that soil in various ways. This society attempted
to convey this principle to the people of Scotland, and
he hoped that the example would be followed in Ireland.
the
object means by which this society sought to achieve
object were various. He believed that in improving the
condition of the working classes they recommended what
was called in England the allotment system—which
gave every man a piece of ground of a quarter of an
acre to employ his leisure on. With respect to a
higher class of persons, they had heard of the success
of Dr. Mackenzie's efforts, who had carried on his
plan to a large extent. It had been shown that 500
crofters, as they were called in Scotland, occupying
only five acres each, had their cottages improved
within three years; their holdings were rounded off
and made more convenient, and they were able in the
last three years, notwithstanding the failure of the
potato caop, to maintain their holding, and they had
regularly paid their rent. Now, if this were done in
one case, why could it not be done generally ? If it
were done in Scotland, why could it not be done in
Ireland ? Teach the people in Ireland and elsewhere
how to support themselves, and the result would be
an increase of the wealth and strength of the country
Mr. CHARLES MACKENZIE seconded the motion,
which was carried.

The SECRETARY, in a very able speech, and a most
elaborate manner, proceeded to give an account of the
industrial improvements which had been effected in
various districts under the auspices of the society. The
estate (Gairloch) referred to by Dr. Mackenzie as that
on which the improvements had been carried out, WAS
the property of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, to whom the
first-named gentleman was uncle and guardhiaan,
Under that gentleman's direction the black hhiuchts
had
been replaced by comfortable cottaegecs,,
wthe estate
been built at an expense of only 51 each,
supplying the timber. In order to asho w that the
llighianders did not willingly live in their present
miserable abodes, he would mention an interesting
anecdote. Lady Mackenzie was much surprised one
day, to see a whitewashed cottage glittering in the
sun—
for the others were built of grey stone, and
there was no lime in that part of the country. In
answer to her inquiry the occupier stated " that he
had picked up the shells on the sea shore—had burnt
them so as to make lime, and had thus whitewashed
his cottage."—(Hear, hear.) He regretted that a
portion of the funds for the relief board had not been
placed at the disposal of the society, a recommenda-
tion to this effect having been made by Dr. Mac-
kenzie,secon_ded by that great and good man Dr.
Chalmers. He said that the efforts of the public to