The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-11 00:00:00

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J 25

HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND

ED INBU'RGIT, JUNE 7.--A General Meeting of
this Society was held in their Hall here on Monday last, .at
which there was a very full attendance of the Members, and
among these the Earl of Dalhousie, Lord Abercrombie, . the
Lord Justice Clerk, Hone General Duff, lion. Baron Sir P.
Murray, Bart., Sir John Hope, Bart., General Sir John Dal-
rymple Hamilton, Bart., Sir James Ferguson, Bart., Sir John
Buchan Hepburn, Bart., Sir William Macleod Bannatyne,.Bir
Henry .Sardine, Admiral Fraser, Mr. A bercromby of Birken-
hog, Mr. Miller of Glenlen, Mr. Hunter of Thurston, ;Mr.
Horn Elphinstone of Logie, Mr. Scott of Sinton, Mr. Gordon
of Culvenaan, and altogether above 100 gentlemen of property
and influence in the country. On the Motion of the Earl of.,
DALHOUSIE, the Right Hon. Lord ABERCROBIBY, one of the '
Presidents in Office, was called to the Chair; Lord Dalhousie
at the same time adverted in very appropriate terms, to the ab-
sence of the Duke of Gordon President of the Society, who, as
appeared by a letter from his Grace to the Secretary, was de-
sirous to have attended in his place, but was unavoidably de-
tuined by business in London some days longer than lie had
anticipated. The Society thereafter proceeded to ballot for the
admission of new members whose names had beets duly lodged,
when the following having been severally ballotted for, were
elected, their names ordered to be recorded, and public notifica,
tion of their election given, viz :
The Right Hon. the Earl of Stirling; Michael Bruce, Esq.,
of Scotstown and Stenhouse ; John Murray Garthshore, Esq.,
of Garthshore ; Major. William Moray Stirling, of. Ardoch ;
William Maxwell, Esq., of Auchlean, Gilston Castle; Lieut.-
Colonel Maxwell, of Orchardtown and Gretna; Lieutenant..
Colonel Gordon, of Leitchiestown ; Robert Wallace, Esq, of
Kelly ; Charles Hay, Esq., of Ballindoch ; David Anderson,
Esq., of Jloredun ; James Ker, Esq., of Blackshiels; George
-Kinloch, Esq., younger of 'Kirloch, advocate ; Robert Adam
Dundas, Esq., at Arniston ; James Smith, Esq., of Craigend ;
Donald Charles Cameron, Esq., of Samford, Demerara; Wil-
liam Haig, Esq., of Dollarffeld ; John Mowbray, Esq., of
Cambus; James Hunter, Esq., of Hatton ' • JameS Stewart,
Esq., merchant, Greenock; Alexander Thonfson, Esq., banker,
Greenock; James Watt, Esq., pf Crawford-dyke; William
Johnstone, Esq., merchant, Greenock; John Tawse, Esq.,
advocate, pint Secretary to Society for Propagating Christian
Knowlege ; William Roger, Esq., merchant, Glasgow ; James •
William Mackenzie, Esq., of Pittrichie ; Patrick Orr, Esq.,
W. S. ' • James Auchinleck Cheyne, Esq., of Oxendean, W.S. ;
Henry David Hill, Esq., W. S. ; John Gibson, Esq., W.S.;
James Wemyss, Esq., W. S. ; Charles,Balfour, Esq., W. S. ;
Duncan Grant, Esq., younger of Bught, W. S. ' • Thomas
Burnett, Esq., advocate, Aberdeen; James Blaikie, Esq., ad-
vocate, Aberdeen ; Patrick Bannerman, Esq., advocate, Aber-
deen ; Archibald Young, Esq., Banff; Robert Hope Mon-
criefr, Esq., Perth • Robert Cameron, Esq., accountant, Eilin-
burgh ; William gtewart, Esq., Sheriff-clerk, Kincardineshire;
Captain John Robertson, of Isis Majesty's 40th Foot; Duncan
Henderson, M. D., 78th Highlanders; George'Fraser, Esq.,
merchant in Manchester; Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant
WilliaM Munro, Madras army; George Tait, Esq., of Langrig.
The SECRETARY submitted to the Society the proceedings
of the Directors since the anniversary meeting in January last,
in so far as these related to the premiums offered by than from
,the sum then placed at their dieposal. He recapitulated, by
reference to the printed list of premiums on the table, the ge-
neral heads or classes in the various departments of agriculture
and rural industry, under which the rewards, pecuniary and
honorary, were offered, comprising premiume.-1. For Essays
and Reports for information upon a variety of subjects, scien-
tific and practical ; 2. Farm and Friendly Society Book-keep-
ing; 3. Purifying Salt.; 4. Draining and Cultivating Waste
Lands; 5. Crops and Culture, under which title are compre-
hended the subdivisions of Green and Fallow Crops—Feeding
off Turnips on the field in dry soils—Drill and Broadcast Hus-
bandry for Grain Crops—Wedge Draining—and Honorary .
Rewards to practical ploughmen for Improvement in Plough-.
ing ; fi. Improving Pastures; 7. Live Stock, under which ex-
tensive branch, the improvement of the Scotch breeds of cattle
in their lean or store state—Sheep and Wool—and Horses for
draught and harness, are included; 8. Products ot. Live Stock,
comprising the premiums for curing Beef and Pork, the Ge-
neral Management of the Dairy Farm, as Well as the particular
departments of making Butter and Cheese, and feeding Veal
9. Plantations; JO. Premiums to Cottagers for the
cleanest
kept Cottages ; and, finally, 11. The General Show of Fat •
Stock, Agricultural Meeting, and Exhibition of Imple-
ments and Seeds, which takes place at Edinburgh on the
7th December next, under which important divisioh pre-
miums are offered for fifteen different classes of stock,
In closing the brief view of the subjects to which the premiums
for this year are directed, the Secretary observed, that it must
be gratifying to the Members to see, among the publications
on the table, the journal of a foreign agricultural society, that
of the Department of the North in France, in the number of
which journal for April last the proceedings of this Society, and
the premiums of the present year, are adverted to in terms high-
ly honourable and approbatory.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE called the attention of' the Meeting
to the recent proceedings of the Directors, in regard to carrying
into effect the intentions of the Society for having an experi-
ment made with the Hainault scythe, so generally in use in
Flanders, in order to ascertain its comparative • advantages in
reaping grain, compared With the sickle, and the common
scythe as used in this country. His Lordship mentioned that
the Directors had now, through the obliging medium of the
French Consul-General in Scotland, the Chevalier Masclet,
concluded an arrangement subject to the approbation of this
meeting, for bringing over two intelligent men from French
Flanders, in the ensuing harvest, who would carry their imple-
ments along with them, exhibit them in practice, and who were
qualified to instruct others in their use. Arrangements had
been made that these men should go different districts of the
country, so as the implement might be trie.:, and reapers in-
structed in these districts, in the event of our farmers judg-
ing it advantageous to any extent to adopt the practice. The
Meeting unanimously approved of the measure as detailed by
the Noble Earl, and placed the requisite sum at the disposal of
the Directors, to defray the expences.
The late proceedings of the Committee on the Gaelic Dic-
tionary were detailed by Mr. HENRY .INI ACKE NZ lE, the chair-
man of that Committee, with his usual perspicuity. The print-
ing of the work is proceeding at the University press, as expe-
ditiously as circumstances will allow; and it appears that since
last meeting, the Committee had proceeded to treat with those
booksellers who were desirous of becoming the publishers of
this national work, and had concluded a satisfactory arrange-
ment with Messrs. Constable and Company, whose offer .had
been preferred.

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- • Mr. I.NNEs of Stow, Treasurer of the Society, concurred in
these observations, and added, that, of any interim advance
which might yet be required, the Society would be afterwards
relieved.

Dr. BARCLAY, Convener of the Committee on the Lectifres
on Veterinary Surgery, which have been recent y giien in Edin-
burgh by Mr. William Dick, under the Society's patrBnage,
laid on the table a report of the ,result of the course for session
1824-5. The Doctor, Whose practical opinion on this subject
has deservedly much weight, expressed, in 'strong terms, his
sense of the advantages which must arise from the establishment
of such a course of lectures in Scotland. Ile obServed, that,
owing to the expence of attending the Veterinary College at
London, or to the subject having heretofore attracted little at-
tention in Scotland, it appears that very few regular bred vete-
rinary surgeons have, as yet, settled in this country ; it was sa-
tisfaction, however, to find that, at last course, under .Mr.
Dick, the number of practical farriers had been greater than
had attended in the former year ; and, as the lecturer had ap-
plications to recommend farriers for three districts which could
not be supplied, it was obvious that the subject was attracting
more attention. Dr. Barclay urged the expediency of the So-
ciety's still continuing to patronize these lectures ; and added,
that he had no doubt that some of the medical gentlemen of
Edinburgh, if applied to, would readily agree to examine fire
students at the termination of the course, as to their practical
knowledge of comparative anatomy ; and the certificate of such
examination would be a satisfactory guarantee of the farrier's
qualifications for practice.
Sir Jokrx HOPE, a member of the Committee, concurred
with Dr. Barclay in the importance of these lectures, and recom-
mended their continuance ; when, in pursuance of the Coin-
mittee's report, the Society voted the necessary sum for the
course commencing in the ensuing autumn.
Mr. lions ELPIZINSTONE, Convener of the Society's
Committee of resident members for regulating all details con-
nected with the premiums offered by the Society in Aberdeen-
shire and atijoißing. •counties, for encouraging the practice of
curing beef and pork,: and promoting the curing of butter on
an improved System,,reported the very satisfactory results of ,
which these premiums had ahead), been productive, and those
which promised still farther to attend them in the present year.

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PRICE SEt-tIsTPF,NCE.

He estimated that `-950 tons Of. salt butter,' had been exported
from- Aberdeenshire alorie,-in the year ending ISt January last,
which, at 851. a ton? yielded 89,000!. to, the (sou at- •
very large qUantity, and the improved system of caring,' had
been-in a great meaShre 'owing to'the judieidita'regalathins esta,
blished by the agricultural association Of•Aberdeenshire, Which.
had this year voted the liberal'. stmi of 60 guirteasito
plied along with the premium's offered by•this society, for pro-
moting the improvenient and eitensian of butter-curing in the
county.
Mr. FEndugseig of Woodhilf, from the CoMmittee
pointed to determine the premium some time ago olfered by the
I:)ciety for experiments on the comparative value of different
manures in'raising turnips, mentioned, that a variety of very
interesting reports had been received in competition ;• that Mr.
Andrew Hoivden, an intelligent farmer at Lawhead, in East
Lothian, had been the successful candidate; whose experiments
with 14 different kinds of manure;-Were certified by Sir John
Buchan Hepburn and Mr. 'Rennie of Phantassie. Mr. hots_
den continue! his exper!..lentS during this crop, directed so
some points upon which time Committee were desirous of infor-
mation ; after which the Directors intended to take an early
opportunity of publishing the different reports. -
Soule., years ago the Society offered- a premiuM- to pronriote
.experiments in saving clover seed in Scotland, with a view ci
ascertaining if a part at least of the expence of the purchase ot.
Dutch and English closer might not be saved to the Scotch
farmer, by sowing his own seed. Mr: Pringle' of Whitehan!t,
from the Committee for deciding this premitun, reported that
Mr. Jack, farmer at Hawcraig, in the Came of Gowrie, had
obtained the premium ; but the Committee -.regretted die'
result was not Stich as to lead them to expect that clover setts
could, he advantageously saved in Sciuland, unless under very
favourable circumstances.

Mr. C. OLIPHANT, Convener of the Committee on Friendly
Societies,' called the•attention of the Meeting to the friendly so- •
Ciety tables, prepared by Mr.• Lyon, House Governor-of \Vat,'
son's Hospital, which had now been about a year before -the
members and the public, in the fast volume of the Society's
Transactions, and in a smaller volume containing; the report on •
friendlsasOCieties by itSelf. • When the materials' advertised for
were collected from the records of friendly societies, it became
necessary to undertake the arduous task of reducing them to•
order—to elicit from them the data they were capable of afford-
ing, and then to. construct tables for . the future guidance of
friendly societies. To perform this task adequately required
much matheMatical skill, and was altogether a labour of a very
arduous kind. But Mr. Lyon, on being requested, bad readily
undertaken it; and under the suggestions of the Committee, ha-
executed the duty of calculating These tablet; in a manner whielt
did equal credit to his talents, industry, and mathematical
skill. Having declined any pecuniary reward for his services,
the Directors had concurred in opinion that some proper math -
of the Society's approbation should•he bestowed in another form.
Mr. Oliphant therefore moved, that a piece cf plate, of the
value of 20 guineas, with a-suitable inscription, should be voted
by the Society to Mr. Lyon.
Mr. MACDONALD of St. Martins said, he highly approved -•
of the suggestion, and concurred in all that had' been expressed
in fsvour of Mr. Lyon's merits. Mr. Oliphant himself had
pointedly declined any other notice of.iiiß own valuable labours
than the thanks of the Society, and the Directors understanding
from him, that pecuniary remuneration would not be accepted
in this case; he, had much pleasure Pt seconding the Motion,
• which was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. SMALL KEIR of E.inmouth, who had been convener •
of; the committee on the distillery laws,• congratulated :the
Meeting on the successful operation of the law, as now esta-
blished, in the suppression of illicit distillation. • Under its sa-
.ltztary provisions legal stills were in operation, or in 1n0.;..5s
of being established, in every district of the country. The at-
tention of the Directors had been 'particularly called, 'by some
of the Society's resident menther!,, to • the Merits of George
Smith, who had been the 'first to establish a legal'atill 'in Glen-
livat, one of 'those districts in which the pernicious and de-
Moralising practice of smuggling Ind been most deeply root-
ed, in the practice as well es ill the feelings and prejudices
of the people; On this subject Mr. Keir added, that the Di-. •
rectors had lately received a communication from Sir George' •
Mackenzie, Bart., whose .attention •to the inisiness was well
known,Thuggesting that now when le;td-stills were generally
established, it might be expedient to offer premiums for improv-
ing the quality of the spirit; with a view, as well to the health
of the consumer, as to enable it to compete with foreign pro. •
duce. A suggestion was also thrown out at the meeting by Sir
Patrick Murray, that it might be expedient if the Excise reliev-
ed the distiller of the expellee of those parts of the apparatus.
which were required only for the security of the revenue.
On a motion of Mr. KErn seconded by Col. MACDONALD,
both suggestons were remitted to the Directors..
Several models of articles in mechanics were exhibited.' Mr.
GRAHAM DALYELL, Convener of the Cornmittee in this de-
partment, observed that ,no money vote was required from the
Society on this occasion. Lieutenant Lindesay, R.N.•had
transmitted a model of a nautical instrument, called a " marine
circuitor," which, it was understood, had been favourably
thought of, but not being within the Society's 'ebjects, it vatr:
recommended ,to the inventor to lay it before tjie Board of' .
Miralty ; • Mr. Fletcher -Yetts-of Edinburgh, had presented to
the Society, for being deposited in the Gallery of Models, a very
neat model of a fire engine, for which the thanks of the Direc-
tors had been conveyed to him. - •
The thanks of the Society were voted to the Society of Agri-
culture and Botany at Ghent, and the.AgTicultural Society of
the Department of the North of France, for their Memoirs pre-
sented since last meeting ; and to the Society of Arts,. London,
for the continuation of their Transactions. The Secretary also
laid on the table a copy of Mr. Finlayson's Treatise called the
British Farmer, of Mr. Graham Dalyell's translation of •
Huber's Natural History of Bees, and of Mr. Rae Wilson's
Travels in Turkey, Greece, &c., recently presented for the
library, for which the Directors bad authorized him to cohvey
their thanks to the several donors. A variety of applications
foipremiums aid other matters were referred to the Directors,
among them a suggestion by Sir Patrick Murray, supported by
Lord Dalhousie, regarding the expediency of taking means for
procuring authentic materials for county maps, under the ads
vantage of the Trigonometrical Survey in Scotland, in so far "
as it had proceeded, as it was doubted whether access had yet :
been given by Government to such materials, excepting in so
far as they had been published officially. The business being
disposed of; the Vice-President in the Chair addressed the.
Meeting, expressive of his Lordship's sense of what the Insti- '
tutiop owed to the various Members who*took- the active duties
of Committees, and devoted so much of their time and labour
to the Society's business; and thereafter Sir J. D. Hamilton,
Berta.- in very appropriate terms, moved the thanks •of the
Meeting to Lord Abercrombie, who had most readily come up
from his seat in the country to take the duties of his office at
this meeting. Mr. Abercrombie of Birkenbog seconded this
motion, which passed with great applause, and the mec'ting
then adjourned.---( Edinburgh Courant.) • -

An application has beeti Made by• the Regent'tc
Canal Company to the Police, to assist in putting a stop to in-
decent bathing on the banks of the Canal, which, after certain
hours in the morning, ought certainly to be discouraged.

TURN-OUT OF TILE SHOEMAKERS.—The jqur.
nvyroen shoemakers in this town, who are cern-
bined in the Union, lately struck against one of
the principal master shoemakers, for having
men in his employ who were not. members of
the Union. He, not complying with their dic-
tatorial command, the members of the Union
left his service on finishing their -work in
hand. Such conduct would not in the least
have been noticed by their employed, as other, -
hands were immediately procured, who were
glad of the situationslhey had vacated, had-rot
the refractory men resorted to extremities which
were intolerable. Their former master's shop
has been blockaded for, near a fortnight by men
deputed from the Union, who have committed
assaults upon those now engaged, and have 7
threatened then' with further ill treatment, if
they do not discontinue working,,, The police • *
have in consequence been obliged 'to, be called
in, to protect the men emplonti, in passing,
t wefn the-shop and their homes;slL(leeds
Intel-
lrgencer.)