The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

On the 14th inst., a public meeting of the inha-
bitants of Elgin and its neighbourhood took place,
in consequence of a requisition to the Provost,
numerously signed, for the purpose of expressing
their disapprobation of the conduct of a party of
the Church, in resisting the declared law of the
land. The meeting, which was held in the new
Court House, was most respectably and numerously
attended—Alexander Forteath, Esq., of Newton. in
the chair. The principal speakers were John Paul,
M.D. ; Mr. Cameron, Sheriff Substitute ; Mr. Petrie,
merchant ; and Mr. Lawson, banker ; who all
strongly condemned the conduct of the dominant
party in the Church in persisting in the Veto
Act, after its having been declared illegal ; in
suspending seven respected clergymen for obey-
ing the law of the land ; and in sending itinerant
preachers to the north for the purpose of agitating the
country, and alienating the affections of the people
from their pastors. The speakers were well received
by the meeting, who cordially concurred in their views ;
and resolutions were unanimously passed.
A numerous meeting of the Commissioners of
Supply, Justices of Peace, &c., of the county of
Aberdeen, was held in the Court House, Aber-
deen, on Wednesday, Colonel Fraser, of Castle
Fraser, in the chair. Mr. Gordon, of Craig, moved
a series of resolutions, expressive of regret at the
recent proceedings of the General Assembly and
the Commission, importing disobedience to the
law of the land, and exercising an undue severity
towards seven clergymen in that and a neighbouring
county. Mr. Lumsden of Pitcaple seconded the reso-
lutions. An amendment was moved by Sir W. Seton,
seconded by Mr. Dingwall, Fordyce, and resolutions
were moved by Mr. Thomson of Banchory, seconded
by Mr. Ferguson of Kilmundy. On a division, the
votes were, for Mr. Gordon's motion, 56 ; for Sir W.
Seton's amendment, 5 ; for Mr. Thomson's motion, 3.
At the meeting of the Town Council of Dundee, on
Wednesday, a question arose as to the right of Town
Councils to prevent public meetings being held in the
Established Churches, when it was resolved to prevent
the Steeple Church from being " let out" to the non-
intrusionists, on the ground that the object in view was
" opposed to the law of the land."
NON-INTRUSION. .--- A CONFERENCE. —We un-
derstand that the seven suspended clergymen of
Strathbogie were requested to hold a conference with
the Rev. Dr. Gordon, of Edinburgh, regarding
their recent contumacious proceedings, no doubt with
the view of obtaining from them something in
the shape of an apology for their rebellion against
the Assembly's orders. But they declined to meet
the Rev. Doctor, and sent their legal adviser to attend
the meeting. At last meeting of the Presbytery of
Aberdeen, certain of our city clergymen were ap-
pointed to preach in the parishes of the suspended cler-
gymen of Strathhogie for the two ensuing Sabbaths, and
• to remain during the interval in the parish, and, of
course, agitate for the independence of the Church.
An interdict, we understand, has been applied to pre-
vent these strange proceedings.—Aberdeen Herald.

EFFECT OF THE ATMOSPHERE

ON DISEASES.

(From Dr. Sigmond's Treatise on the Use of Mercury.)
The older physicians laid particular stress upon the
influence of the sun and moon upon human bodies ; and
Dr. Mead has collected some very curious instances to
prove the influence of the planets. Modern science and
experience have shown that although the paroxysms and
periods of disease are guided by regular laws, there is no
reason for the belief that the celestial bodies are in any
way connected with them, but that they are dependent
on atmospheric changes. We find, under particular aerial
states, that epidemics are prevalent, and that their cure
must vary according to the changes that produced them,
and medicines will, under such circumstances, lose much
of their power, and even be productive of evil conse-
quences. During fine clear weather, the preparations of
mercury seldom affect the bowels, nor do they produce
that depression of spirits which is so often observed to
accompany their use during damp moist weather. This
does not altogether depend upon the state of atmos-
phere determining from the outward surface, and pre-
venting a free action of the skin, because the coldest
weather, if it be dry, is well adapted for its administra-
tion. It seems, in some measure, to be connected with
the electricity of the body. We are well aware, if the
weather be damp and foggy, that a listless and languid
state is produced ; whilst during dry weather, however
cold it may be, there is a feeling of light-heartedness and
cheerfulness pervading the whole of the system. In
the first instance, the atmosphere is robbing us of our
electricity, which it greedily absorbs ; in the latter case,
the dryness of the air is such, that it leaves us in pos-
session of the electricity which seems to belong to us ;
hence the buoyancy of spirits on the cold frosty days of
December and January, and the suicidal despondency
of November, and hence the elasticity, the life, and
animation of the Frenchman, the sluggish, heavy move-
ment of the Dutchman, the variable feelings of the
Englishman, one clay full of hope and cheerfulness, the
next day at war with himself and the rest of mankind.
" During moist states of the weather, mercurial prepa-
rations should be sparingly prescribed ; and when, from
the diseased state of the system, they cannot be dis-
pensed with, very great attention is to be paid to the
clothing. To every one in damp, moist conditions of
the atmosphere, flannel is a great comfort, but silk is
the most useful covering of the body. It is by far the
best friend and comforter that can be applied. We know
that if a silk handkerchief be perfectly dry, lightning the
most accumulated could not pass through it, so decided
a non-conductor is it ; hence, if worn next to the skin,
the air cannot absorb the electricity of the human body.
Silk waistcoats, drawers, and stockings of the same ma-
terial, are of the greatest service during the humid state
of the winter months of this country. The hypochon-
driac, the nervous, will derive from them more benefit
than from the most active tonic, and they will prove a more
invigorating cordial than any spirituous dram; nor are
the effects transient, for a buoyancy of spirits, and an
agreeable warmth, are thus diffused over the whole
fretne. Patients, therefore, during mercurial influence,
are much better wrapped in silk than even when con-
fintd to bed ; but this latter precaution can more ge-
nerally be taken, and hence the different preparations
are always best administered on the invalid retiring to
bed, and he should be kept there until the effects have
been produced. This is more especially the case with
calomel. As much mischief has arisen from the want
of proper precaution, as from large doses, and the habit
of the individual is always to be duly weighed and con-
sidered. Females of a delicate, nervous, irritable frame,
are rendered languid, peevish, incapable of fulfilling their
usual duties; they feel chilly, they easily shed tears, are
sometimes almost hysteric, and though they have no
actual suffering to endure, are almost as miserable as if
they had it to encounter. On the other hand, the
stout, robust, plethoric individual, who probably has to
bear very great pain from the nature of his disease,
seems quite insensible to any unwonted effect ; it, how-
ever, more generally acts upon such a constitution with
greater energy, and leaves behind it a more decided
state of debility, if it be persevered in for any length of
time, or if it be often repeated. The inhabitants of this
country are very little influenced by it, comparatively
speaking, from their high mode of living, and from their
being so much habituated to the changes of climate ;
but foreigners are not so fortunate, nor can they bear a
dose which, in their native air, they could take with im-
punity. Indeed, they have a horror of blue pill and of
calomel ; their incapability of bearing it is greater here
than in their own climate."

A very disgraceful affair has just taken place at
Keston-common. In our last we mentioned that an inquest
had been held on the body of a man in the employment of the
Hon. Lionel Tollemache, who had died from drinking to excess
gin gratuitously furnished by his master. On the Jury was a
Mr. Haslett, who keeps a large shop on Keston-common, who
very properly expressed his disgust at the revolting debauch
which had caused the death of this miserable man. On Mon-
day Mr. Haslett applied to the Rev. T. Scott, a Magistrate at
Bromley (who refused permission for reporters to be present),
for redress under the following circumstances :—lt appears
that since the inquest Mr. Haslett has been subjected to nu-
merous petty annoyances from the dependents of this wild
scion of hereditary legislation, and that a few days previously
his wife and daughter, the latter aged about sixteen, were
sitting in a parlour, commanding a view of the shop, when two
men entered the latter (it being at the time broad daylight) in
a state of nudity. Mr. Haslett being immediately called, the
two infamous offenders hastily ran away, running vio-
lently against a young woman who was entering the shop, and
passing upwards of 30 houses in their retreat to the stables of
the Hon. L. Tollemache, which they were seen to enter. They
were also seen in conversation with a man named Hill, Mr.
Tcllemache's shepherd, who is stated to have said on their re-
turn, " You have done it well." Mr. Haslett, suspecting that
this brutal and revolting outrage upon public decency had been
instigated by the Hon. L. Tollemache, procured a summons
against him, and the case after occupying the attention of the
Rev. Mr. Scott some time ( with closed doors) on Monday
week, was adjourned till Monday last.—Maidstone Gazette.
LIABILITY OF SOLICITORS TO SERVE ON
CORONERS' JuitiEs.—An inquest was appointed to be held
before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the Middlesex Hospital, on Wed-
nesday morning, at nine o'clock. The Coroner not having ar-
rived at the appointed Hour, his clerk, Mr. Bell, began the ex-
amination of witnesses, when Mr. Thomas Harrison, a solicitor,
who was summoned on the jury, said, ‘. Sir, are you not aware
that you are acting illegally in taking evidence in the absence
of the Coroner ?" Mr. Bell—" I know my own business, and
stall act accordingly." Mr. Harrison—" If I were a witness I
would refuse to answer you a single word."
.The Coroner ar-
rived at ten o'clock, and on the names of the jury being called
over, Mr. Harrison claimed exemption from serving en the
ground of his being a solicitor. The Coroner said no person,
be he Peer, Judge, or military or naval officer, was exempt, on
the ground of his station, office, or profession, from serving the
office of juror in that Court. He advised Mr. Harrison to con-
sult the 9th of George IV., c. 50, where the law on the point
was defined. Mr. Harrison' would consent to serve for the
present; but if he were summoned again he would come pre-
pared with legal authorities to clear up the question at issue.
The Coroner directed the beadle to summon Mr. Harrison on
the first opportunity.
WOODEN PAVEMENTS IN TIIE METROPOLIS.
—The Vivid, Hull steam ship, arrived yesterday at the St.
Katherine's wharf, bringing 4,000 wooden blocks of yellow
pine for the pavement now laying down in Oxford-street, and
various other metropolitan thoroughfares. The Hull Steam-
packet Company have entered into a contract to bring up
10,000 blocks per week for the paving commissioners. 'The
blocks are sawn at the steam saw mills at Hull, and are supplied
at a very cheap rate.