The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-25 00:00:00

COUNTY OF EDINBURGII.

On Tuesday a General Meeting was held of the Noble-
men, Freeholders, Commissioners of Supply, and Justite
of the Peace for the County—Mr. Sheriff Dun in the
Chair.

PAUPERS' SETTLEMENT BILL.

Lord ROMBERY explained the history of this measure,
which originated in the House of Lords, on the failure of
a bill to extend the period for strangers acquiring a settle-
ment in Scotland from three to seven years. That Bill had
passed the House of Commons, and he (Lord R.) sup-
ported it, when it came to the Lords, on various grounds;
but it met with the decided opposition of a Noble Viscount
(Melville), and was iu consequence lost. His Lordship
concluded with moving, " That it is not expedient to alter
the existing law in Scotland, by which natives acquire, in
three years, a settlement entitling them to parochial' relief,
any advantage which might be derived to the community
by that change being subject to counteracting effects, liable
to great objections, and to the probability of many evils re-
sulting from it."
Viscount MELVILLE, having bad a good deal to do with
these Bills, would say a few words, on the Bill first no-
ticed by the Noble Earl, and then address himself to his
motion. With regard to the first Bill, lie felt and did still
feel a strong objection to any general measure of a legisla-
tive nature being carried into effect, which had reference
to one part only of the United Kingdom. It was the wish
of the Legislature to do away with all distinctions, and to
enact such laws as would induce the people of the three
kingdoms to amalgamate together, if he might use the
expression. There were exceptions to this principle,
wherein it would be unfair to do away with distinction.—
For example, the laws of England and Scotland were
guaranteed as they existed at the Union to each king-
dom ; but with such exceptions be considered it the
duty of Parliament to do away as much as possible
with every thing that could tend to prevent their amalga-
mation. Besides, this game of distinction might
be :played to the disadvantage of Scotsmen residing
in other parts of the empire. There was always
a large Scots population in London ; and how would
it do tell Scotsmen that they were not entitled to
settlement on the same principles as Englishmen ? At pre-
sent they are as much entitled to settlement in Middlesex
as persons from the adjoining county of Essex; but a Bill
of this nature would interfere with the rights they now
possess, and lead to much confusion. Under those feel-
ings, he would consider it his duty to persevere in his op-
position to any new Bill brought in upon similar princi-
ples. With regard to the motion of his noble friend, be
would say, that when the one Bill was substituted for the
other, he did not object, and would second the motion of
the noble Earl.

The motion was agreed to.—Edinburgh Observer.

Lord HEYTESBURY arrived on the 7th inst.
in the Russian capital, as well as Count NEDSELRODE, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs.

PORTSOY HARBOUR.—On Saturday after-
noon, the William and Ann, of Portsoy, entered the
new harbour; and although it may be said to be still in
an unfinished state, it was gratifying to see a vessel, draw-
ing about ten feet water, and during a neap tide, enter the
basin without touching the ground. In the course of
next year it is to be hoped, that it will be completed, when
it will form one of the best and safest harbours in the
Moray
.Frith ; and as, from the depth of water, a ship
drawing nine to- eleven feet can take the Barbour upon any
tide, it will be a very great convenience and advantage to
the shipping frequenting the Moray Fritk, for a wind-
bound harbour, or otherwise, as occasion may require.—
Inverness Journal.

EXTRAORDINARY BANKRUPTCY AT
Heaxvoxn.—An extraordinary sensation has been ex-
cited in Hereford, by the bankruptcy of DANIEL PATRICE.
It appears that when the bankrupt found himself in diffi-
culties, he consulted with some experienced hands, certain
of whom had served in the King's Bench, how M extricate
himself. Sham creditors were accordingly manufactured—
stock was removed, a part concealed in a tan-yard, other
portions in dwelling-houses and taverns, and part thrown
into a garden—when the parties implicated heard of war-
rants out against them. JOHN DAVIES, JOHN HATTON,
jun., JOHN KETTLE TURNER, RICHARD THOS. JONES,
and Thomas Pagalcx, brother of the bankrupt, were or-
dered to find bail to answer the charge of conspiracy, and
take their trials at the next Hereford Assizes. We are as-
sured the creditors are resolved to bring the parties to trial,
notwithstanding thirt offers have actually been made by
certain individuals to pay 20s. in the pound upon the
bankrupt's debts, with all expellees, provided the prosecu-
tions are dropped. We applaud the spirit of the creditors,
for a great public good must arise from the exposure of
these nefarious transactions. We shall only add, that the
deluded bankrupt states (omitted for obvious reasons in his
deposition) that he was advised, as one way of balancing
his books, to put down 5001. for the society of women ;
that the claims on his estate were reduted from 4,000/. to
'1,900/., by the erasure of fictitious debts, and the assets
increased from 300/. to 1,6001., by the discoveries made
of fraudulent concealment of property. It is not fair to
conclude without stating how much the creditors are in-
debted to It. 1. Powxl.l., Esq. and E. PRITCHARD and
J. BELLAMY, Esqrs., the Commissioners, 3. E Goodu,
Esq., solicitor (and Mayor of Hereford), and Mr. PEET,
of this, town, accountant, along with one of the creditors,
also of this town, who happened to be there, for their in-
defatigable attention and perseverance in sifting this abo-
minable transaction to the bottom. The bankrupt had
been committed for prevarication, but after making a con•
leseion, was liberated.