Star.
London, England, 1828-01-24 00:00:00

EDINBURGH, JAN. 21.

liznamo FISHINO.—Though the herrings have im-
proved materially both in size and quality, the " take"
is not at all equal to the expectations of the fishermen.
Last year. at this time, the hands at every trip could
calculate with some safety on five and six trans a boat,
but during the last week they have not averaged above
one cran a boat. Though some have been bought as
low as 21s. others have brought 244. so that 235. a cran
is at present the average price.. With the exception of
some small quantities Which have been cured for red
herrings, at Burntisland, Newhaven, and South Queens-
ferry, curing is as yet out of the question.
ADMISSION OF ADVOCATES.--A better illustration
cannot be given of the progressive advancement of this
country in wealth than by exhibiting the successive aug-
mentations which have taken place in the fees payable
by entrants to the Faculty of Advoca•es. In little more
than one hundred and fifty years these have been raised
from 401. to 2001. Scots sterling, exclusive of nearly
1001. paid for stamps and other dues. The series of aug-
mentations is as follows:—Originally the sum paid by
entrants was, as we have just said, 401. Scots; but, on
the Ist of March, 1673, it was increased to 200 ?perks
and again, on the Ist of January, 1678, to 500 Ire, ks
Scots money. About the year 1721 it was raised to 401.
sterling ; on the 6th of March, 1762, to 601. and, in
August, 1770, to 801. On the 11th of March, 1784, it
was increased to 1001. on the Bth of July, 1790, to 1501.
and, finally, on the 15th of March, 1803, to 2001. ster-
ling, which is still considered by many as inadequate,
notwithstanding the heavy tax levied for the stamp on
which the act of admission is engrossed, and other due,.
Saturday afternoon a fire of an alarming description
broke out, betwixt four and five o'clock, in the chemi-
cal works at Bonnington, near Leith, belonging to Dr.
Anderson. The crane used in dischargieg a tar still
was opened for the purpose of drawing ora portion of
tar. Something having entered it, it became impossi-
ble to get it closed before the tar, which began to over-
spread the floor, had communicated with the fire under
the adjoining still. The flames precluded all further
approach, and the contents of the still, amounting to
about 50 barrels of tar, spread over the floor of the still
house. The roof was immediately consumed; but the
arrival of the fire engines from the Artillery Barracks
and town of Leith was successful in confining the fire
to the house in which it originated.

ANECDOTES.
SILSCTID !SOX Till SAIL OF SIUDGEWATIS:S YAWL! ASSCDOTSS

TRINTILD TOR PRIVATR CIRCULATION.

The Duke of Marlbot °ugh, when he got old, usually
passed the evening in a room which looks upon one of
the courts of Blenheim House. I know the room from
mug habits, because it was that which was appropriated
to be my bed-chamber, after the death of the old
Duchess of Bedford, whenever I came to Blenheim. In
that room he played regularly every evening at chess.
When he was beat, the old man sometimes shed tears
—id Every one," he sobbed out, "every one cau beat

me now."
Francis Egerton, Duke of Bridgewater, never would
let any one come to him—he always would go to them
—" For," said he, " if they come to me they may stay
as long as they please; if I go to them I can stay as
long as I please."
The Duke was a firm ftiend to his country ; he wil-
lingly contributed his quota to every tax that was levied
to defray its expenses, and even went voluntarily beyond
what he was under the necessity of doing, for he sub.
scribed one hundred thousand pounds to the Royslty
Loan. He supported Ministers and the King's Govern.
ment. Once, indeed, lie set himself against a tax which
Mr. Pitt had the intention of getting passed ; upon that
tae (the Fustian Tax), he opposed Mr. I'itt and beat
him, for Mr. Pitt withdrew it. Mr. Pitt over and over
again proposed to the Duke to let him come to see
him in Lancashire and Cheshire, duting one of the sum-
mer reces es; but the Duke always replied by courtly
and complimentary phtwes and plausible excuses; and
never would let Mr. Pitt come—" He will see," said the
Mite to me, as we went in his boat along the naviga•
tion, 66 how rich the country is, and will find out some-
thing in which he may think it would bear additional
taxing."
When, upon the great question which Government
Suppßrted, Sir Robert Walpole was left in a minority,
wtereby his Adininistiation was terminated, the teller
fin the Noes,, as, he went op to report the numbers of
the division, vociferated, " limo hoop!" intending to
apprise the House, that " at length the old fox was
tun clown."
One day, when Lord "Bath told us he was going to
Loegleat, and mentioned the place where he should
sleep on the road, " You will not be so well there as at
home."' " Yes," said L rd Bath, " but I like ao inn."
" How can you, master of Lougleat, and with your
house in Arlington-street, like an inn ?" " Yes," said
Lord Bath, I like an inn, because they seem always
stapled to see me:'
Lord Bath passed for one of the wisest men in Eng-
land. When one is in oppositaso;" said he, 66 it is
very easy indeed to know what to say ; but when one is
Minister, it is difficult to know what not to say."
The Led of Breadalbane told me, that when our
Government sent him to Sweden, as be was tiding
with the King, Charles XII. whom a great Etat Major
followed, they rode into a court u here formerly had
been a forties'. The castle was not only dismantled,
but pulled down, and sloe ing now, at this distance of
time remained, but the wall of enclosure of the court,
and round this coati wall, which was left entire, was
every here or there a gate or porch, which opened into
the country. One of these gates or porches was very
narrow and low: on observing it, some one of the ca•
valcade saidi " It weald be difficult to make one's
escape duouh there, if pursued by an enemy." " Not
at all, cried Charles XII. with that, he clapped spurs
to his horst, made away, full gallop, three/ himself
back in the saddle, and upon the very crupper of his
toes', as he attempted to pass this gate or porch, which
was so very low that the arch grazed all the buttons of
his waistcoat, earl took off many. Charles XII. rode
rowel to the eutzatice where be had come in, " There,
Gentlemen. you see nothing can be more easy."

&Way, Alexander Edgely, blacksmith in Duns...,
sin of Mr. Eilptel) of Chit dsille, a young man about 22
yews of age, WAS found dead oil the moor between
Longformacus and Dln•kin. It is supposed that he
Lad perished from the alumna cold.
An old set vane in the hemily of the Duke of GORDON,
came to reside in this town (Sheffield), and nuclong
ago, was taken ill, and died rather suddenly.—'!fie
Palle steeped here, on Viredriesday ti,t, And almost
,ims Ara inquiry was where his servant died; and
..,I*Tiog ascertained where he had lodged. the Duke
.404 to the house and made particular inquiry as to'
Ow ha bad wanted any thing at the close of life,
• kw is worthy of being recorded, to the honour of
Isis race, who has a most excellent character for the
epee
atieotion he pays to old servants.—Shinfeld Couramt."