and the affembly appointed the Procurator, and thirty-five other ruling elders, among whom are the Lords Prefident, Chief Baron, and Advocate, Alva and Ankerville, and many lawyers and writers to the fignet, (the Procurator to be convener), as a committee, to confider this affair, and ripen it for the next affembly.

A reprefentation of the truftees of the widows fund, refpecting certain alterations propofed to be made in the fcheme of that fund, which had been tranfmitted to prefbyteries and univerfities by the preceding affembly, and alfo the returns made in confequence of that tranfmiffion, were taken into confideration. Certain articles were approved of, and certain articles were appointed to be tranfmitted to prefbyteries and univerfities; and a letter was appointed to be wrote to the moderator of each prefbytery, and to the principal of each univerfity, by the clerk of affembly, requiring them to report the opinion of contributors on thofe articles on or before the fecond Tuesday of October next, diftinguishing the number of contributors approving and difapproving of each article. The truflees are to lay these reports before the commiffion in November; and the commiffion is to apply to parliament, for a new ftatute for fuch variations to be made upon the prefent statutes as were agreed to by the laft af fembly in confequence of the approbation of contributors, and fuch other alIterations refpecting the articles now tranfmitted, as fhall appear reasonable, and most agreeable to the fenfe of contributors. In cafe there fhall be no meeting of commiffion in November, the powers vefted in them are vefted in the trustees; and the better to fecure returns within the time limited, it is recommended to the trustees to write a letter to each contributor, informing him of this refolution.

On report of a committee appointed on Thursday to confider of a petition of Mr Patrick Caldwell minifter at Norryf town, the affembly unanimously authorifed the prefbytery of Dumblane to pay to Mr Caldwell 201. Sterling out of the funds of Norryftown under their adminiftration [xxxv. 272.], to be applied by him in repairing the offices belonging to the manfe of Norryftown, and the dikes and hedges furrounding the garden and orchard; and further, ordained, that

Mr Caldwell, and his fucceffors in office, fhall be intitled to poffefs the five acres and a half of ground as a glebe (for which he presently pays L. 8: 2:6 Sterling yearly) free of rent in all time coming.

In the committee for overtures, this day, a motion was made, to bring in an overture for changing the punishment of thofe found guilty of fornication and adultery from ftanding on what is called the tool of repentance, into a pecuniary fine. The motion was warmly fupported, and as warmly opposed. After a long debate, the gentleman who made the motion agreed to withdraw it; fo that the affair was dropped for the prefent.

Saturday, June 1. The report of a committee appointed to confider the ftate of Popery in the highlands and iflands of Scotland [xxxvi. 276.], being called for, a member of the committee informed the Houfe, that they had no report ready, but craved to be continued. The affembly continued the committee, with the powers formerly given to them.

It being reprefented, that many prefbyteries had neglected to make the collection for the fupport of the charityfchools [xxxvi. 276.], the affembly recommended it to the fociety for propagating Chriftian knowledge, to fend a new copy of the act of affembly appointing this collection to be made, together with a lift of thofe that are deficient in making the collection, to the moderator of each of thefe prefbyteries; and the affembly renewed the appointment upon fuch deficient prefbyteries to make the collection between and next aflembly.

The report of a committee appointed to confider an overture refpecting ftudents of divinity, and the licenfing of probationers [274], was given in, read, confidered, and agreed to, fo far as to tranfmit the overture of the affembly 1749 fimpliciter; ftrictly enjoining prefbyteries to attend to a matter of fuch importance, and to fend up their opinions thereupon to the next affembly.

Two petitions and complaints by Meff. John Spence of Orwell and Alexander Daling of Cleith were read. — In the privy cenfures, in Dunfermline prefbytery, April 5. 1775, Mr George Adie moved, "That whereas there was, and is, a fama clamofa of a disturbance in the church of Dunfermline, in time of public worship, upon one or other of the

Sabbaths

Sabbaths of October or November laft [xxxvi. 620.], the prefbytery fhould make inquiry into the fame." Mr DaJing feconded this motion; and added, That in regard the affair relating to Mr Thomson and Robert Scotland had made a great noife in the country, and accounts of it had been published in the news-papers unfavourable to Mr Thomfon, which have not been publicly contradicted, he therefore moved, That the prefbytery should take that affair under confideration, and hear Mr Thomson thereon. Mr John Spence adhered to thefe motions. After long reafoning, a vote was ftated: "Receive the motion; or, Reject the fame, in regard the brethren who made it had never converfed with Mr Thomfon in private on that fubject." It carried, Reject. Mr Daling protefted, That it fhould be competent to him to renew the motion after converfing in private with Mr Thomson. Mr Spence adhered. Then the moderator intimated to Mr Thomfon, That they found nothing cenfurable this day in his conduct, and encouraged him to go on in the work of the Lord.

Mr Daling informed the prefbytery, Sept. 27. 1775, That he had converfed privately with Mr Thomfon; and, notwithstanding, he ftill thought it incumbent on him to infift, that the prefbytery fhould take the affair under confideration: but as Mr Thomson was not then prefent, and as the affair was before the court of feffion, he did not infift on its being then proceeded in. So it was delayed.

Mr Daling renewed his motion, May 8. 1776, in a writing, under form of inftrument; importing, That as the prefbytery had declined a diet for privy cen. fures that day, the affair relating to Mr Thomfon and Robert Scotland be refumed, and that the prefbytery refolve to take cognifance of it: That this was the more neceffary, becaufe not only was there an account of the fermon publifh ed in news-papers and magazines, which had given great and general offence, but it was evident from a reclaiming petition given in to the court of feflion for Mr Thomfon, that a fentence was pronounced against him by the Lords [xxxvii. 694.], (which he recited): he therefore moved, That for the exoneration of the prefbytery, and that Mr Thomson might have an opportunity of vindicating himfelf, they should declare their refolution

to enter upon this affair with all conver nient fpeed, they having incurred a deal of reproach for delaying it fo long; and, in the mean time, as the cafe was new and fingular, and the general affembly fo near, that the prefbytery refer it to them for their advice and direction. The prefbytery, confidering, that there had been no meeting for prayer and pri vy cenfures before the laft fynod in April, refolved to have a diet for that pur pofe on the day of the ordinary meeting of prefbytery immediately before the meeting of the fynod, in October next, when the affairs in dependence before meetings for privy cenfures, and in particular that referred to in the motion made by Mr Daling, fhould be taken into confideration.-From this refolu. tion Mr Daling entered an appeal to the affembly. Mr Spence took a proteft in the hands of a notary, for liberty to complain of this refolution.

In the affembly the complainers, and two members of the prefbytery, were heard; the papers were read; parties were heard at the bar; and, after deli berating, the complaints were difmiffed.

Monday, June 3. The affembly conti nued the committees on the window. tax, and on the Enzie fund, with the fame powers as appointed by former affemblies.

On a petition from the fynod of Galloway, the affembly unanimously chan. ged the place of that fynod's meeting, from Wigton to Newton-Stewart; allowing the fynod to adjourn occasionally to Kirkcudbright, Wigton, Stranraer, or elsewhere.

On a motion, the affembly agreed to augment the falary of the beadles [xxxvii. 285.] to forty fhillings Sterling each.

The affembly referred all caufes brought before this affembly, and not difcuffed by them, to their commiffion, with power to them to judge and deter mine finally therein; and appointed a committee to pitch upon fuch acts of this affembly as are to be standing rules, in order to their being printed.

The bufinefs of the affembly being o ver, the Moderator made a speech; then turning to the Commiffioner, he addreffed his Grace in the affembly's name. In return to which his Grace made a speech.

The next affembly is appointed to be held in the fame place upon Thurfday the 22d day of May 1777. MAR

MARRIAGES.

May 3. At London, Lord Viscount Stormont, to Mifs Cathcart, third daughter of Lord Cathcart.

8. At Chester, George Harding, aged 104, to Jane Darlington, aged 84.

19. At London, Lord Vifcount Beauchamp, eldest fon of the Earl of Hertford, to Lady Ifabella Ann Ingram Shepheard, daughter of Lord Viscount Irwin.

20. AP London, Sir George Howard, K. B. d member of parliament for Stamford, to ..dy-dowager Effingham.

20. At Carron-Hall, James Bruce of Kinnaird, Efq; [154.] to Mifs Mary Dundas, eldest daughter of Thomas Dundas of Fingafk, Efq; 20. At Edinburgh, John Gilletpie, Etq; younger of Kirktown, to Mifs Scrymgeour, fifter to Alexander Scrymgeour, Efq; of Birkhill, Advocate.

"St James's, May 11. Laft Sunday even ing the ceremony of chriftening the young princefs [221] was performed in the great council chamber, by the Archbishop of Can terbury. Her Royal Highnefs was named MARY. The fponfors were, Prince Fredenick of Heffe-Caffel, reprefented by the Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain of his Majefty's Household; the Duchefs of Saxe-Gotha, reprefented by the Duchefs of Argyle; and the Princefs Fredericka of MecklenburgStrelitz, reprefented by the Dowager Countefs of Effingham." Lond. gaz.

DEATH S.

Of. 27. 1775. On the coaft of Guinea, Mr Andrew Bruce, third fon of the deceafed Captain James Bruce, late of the 26th regi

ment of foot.

This af

"Petersburg, April 16. N. S. ternoon died, after a few days illness, her Imperial Highnefs the Great Duchefs of Ruffia." Lond. gaz.

April 29. At Padua, Mr Wortley Montague (brother to Lady Bute). He was a moft fingular man, and his death was as remarkable as his life. The cause of it was, his accidentally swallowing the breaft-bone of a small bird, called a Paccafight. He threw it up fome months ago, and flattered himself that he should foon be well, and intended going to England in May; but the bone had made fuch a deep wound in his throat, that it could not be healed. [xxx. 41.] In Jamaica, immenfely rich, George Gooding, Efq; who made his own coffin, which

continually hung over his bed, with a shroud, and every other burial-article in it, till his exit in the 105th year of his age.

May 1. At Craignifh caftle, Argyleshire, James Campbell of Craignish, Efq;

4. At London, Sir John Barrington, B late member for Newton,, in the Ife of Wight.

4. At Chatham, Thomas Fletcher, Efq: deputy lieutenant, and one of the juftices of that county. This gentleman died worth upwards of 70,000l. the whole of which, it is faid, he hath bequeathed to his brother John Fletcher, Efq; of Rochester, whofe fortune was almost as great as his brother's. 7. At. Aberdeen, Mr William Aberdeen, merchant in that city.

10 At Drigg, in Cumberland, Eleanor Thompfon, aged 102.

13. At Lufs, Mr William Grant, minister of that parish.

15. At Fairholm, near Hamilton, Major Charles Hamilton of Fairholm.

15. At Keir manfe, Mr Alexander Bayne of New Grange, in the 84th year of his age, and 56th of his ministry.

15. At Edinburgh, Dr James Dalrymple of Dunragget.

At Clifton, near York, Robert Cook, aged 107.

22. At Clapham, aged 101. Mr Pemberton, formerly an orange-merchant in London.

25. At his feat at Mount Merrion, in Ireland, Richard Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam, K. B. a privy counsellor of that kingdom, and F. R. s.

25. At Edinburgh, Mr Charles Butter, merchant in that city.

26. At Glafgow, in the 18th year of his age, Andrew Buchanan, only fon of James Buchanan of Drumpellier, Efq;

27. At Blackheath, Sarah Viscountess Falkland, wife of Lucius Charles Lord Falkland. Her Ladyfhip was first married to Henry late Earl of Suffolk.

PREFERMENTS.
From the London Gazette.
The King has been pleased,

May 3. to order letters-patent to be paffed under the great feal of G. Britain, conftituting and appointing Richard Lord Vif count Howe, of the kingdom of Ireland, and the Hon. William Howe, Efq; MajorGeneral of his Majefty's forces, and General of his Majefty's forces in North America only, to be his Majefty's Commiffioners for reftoring Peace to his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America; and for granting pardon to fuch of his Majesty's fubjects there, now in rebellion, as shall deserve the Royal Mercy.

-to nominate and appoint Henry Strachy, Efq;