and only one miraculously escaped unhurt. The explosion shook the ground like an earthquake, and made the furniture dance in the surrounding houses. The body of one boy was blown out of the shaft, and fell again to the bottom. By this lamentable event, 48 widows, and between 80 and 90 children have been deprived of their support. Forty of the sufferers were under 40 years of age. It is a most remarkable circumstance, that one of them told his wife, before setting out to work, that he had dreamt the pit was blown up, and she affectionately entreated him not to go; but he said it was but a dream, and waved her advice. The man who escaped, in the course of an hour bravely ventured down again to the mine, to assist in bringing up his unfortunate companions. Another serious accident occurred at Messrs Nesham's colliery at Newbottle, on the Wear, in the same neighbourhood, on the 18th instant, by which six of the workmen lost their lives. One of the brattices erected to close up an old working, was broken into, to obtain more air, when a current of choke damp issued from the perforation, which proved futal to four workmen near. The hole not being instantly closed, the foul air penetrated to most parts of the mine. Mr Hill, the viewer, accompanied by two of the overmen, descended the next day to search for the lost, and ascertain the cause. One of the overmen perished from suffocation in the attempt, and Mr H., with much difficulty, was saved by his other companion. Some of the sufferers were married, and have left large families. 29.-Sir Robert Wilson.-The London Gazette of the 17th September contained a notice, stating, that "the King had been pleased to remove Major-General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson from his Majesty's service."―This measure, which was supposed to have been occasioned by some representations of Sir Robert's conduct, on the occasion of the late Queen's funeral procession through London, excited a very great sensation in the country; and Sir Robert, who was then at Paris, immediately wrote to the Commander-in-Chief demanding a court-martial on his conduct, which was refused. The gallant General then returned to London, where he wrote a letter to Lord Sidmouth, requesting a copy of alleged or suspected informations on oath, that he had plotted obstructions to the Queen's funeral. This request was also refused, but without any denial, either expressed or that could be implied, that such information had been given. If it had, however, it was clearly false; for, at a late public meeting in London, one gentlemen (a Mr Ellice) declares that he arrived from Paris with General Wil. son at five o'clock on the evening of the 13th of August, the day before the Queen's funeral, having been on the French roads with him at the very time when the General was charged with arranging his machinations to obstruct it; and another gentleman (Mr Hume) protested, that he was never absent, for ten minutes together, from Sir R. Wilson's side, during the whole of the succeeding day-to wit, the day when the funeral took place.— On the 22d instant, Sir Robert wrote again to Lord Sidmouth, stating that he had received information that a deposition on oath existed in the home department, of his having been seen on the 14th of August on horseback, with a porter pot in his hand, encouraging the populace to pull up the pavement, and to oppose impediments to the funeral procession; and requesting that his Lordship would direct a copy of such deposition to be delivered to him, that he might institute a prosecution for perjury against the person so swearing. His Lordship next day acknowledged the receipt of the General's letter; but says, that he would not think himself justified in giving the directions for which he had applied. On the 25th a meeting was held at the City-of-London Tavern, at which resolutions, strongly deprecating the mode of Sir Robert's dismissal, were carried unanimously; and a subscription to remunerate the General for the loss of his half-pay has been some time open, to which many noblemen and gentlemen have put down their names for sums of from £100 to £500. APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS, &c. I. CIVIL. Chief Magistrates of Scottish Burghs. Aberdeen-Gavin Hadden Old-Professor Paul Annan Robert Dickson Anstruther Easter-George Forbes Wester-Andrew Meldrum Arbroath-James Marnie Ayr-David Limond of Dalblair Burntisland-Robert Fergusson of Raith Cambelltown-Charles Campbell Crail-Robert Logan Culross James Gibson of Ingliston Cupar-Fife-Andrew Christic of Ferrybank Dunbar--William Hume Dumfries-John Kerr Edinburgh-Rt. Hon. William Arbuthnot Helensburgh-Jacob Dixon of Rosebank Inverary-John Campbell Inverkeithing-James Stuart of Dunearn Linlithgow John Boyd of Woodside Maxwellton-Philip Forsyth of Nithsdale Paisley-William Carlile Perth-Robert Ross of Oakbank Pittenweem-John Tod Port-Glasgow and Newark-James McLean Renfrew-Robert King Stirling-John Thomson of Allan Park Members returned to serve in Parliament. University of Oxford-Richard Heber County of Louth-Rt. Hon. Thomas Henry Skeffington Queen's County-Sir Charles Henry Coote Borough of Shaftsbury-Ralph Lycester, junior County of Salop-Rowland Hill II. ECCLESIASTICAL. Sept. 25.-Rev. Robert J. Brown ordained minister of the church and parish of Drumblade, pres bytery of Turriff: Oct. 1.-Mr John Milwain, preacher of the gospel, appointed minister of the reformed presbyterian congregation of Douglas. 11.-Rev. John Burns ordained assistant and suc cessor to Mr Chalmers, of Auchtergaven. 16. Mr Hugh Young, preacher, appointed minister of the reformed presbyterian congregation of Lauriston, Falkirk. 20.-Rev. Charles Mackie, A M. of Edinburgh, presented to the rectory of Quarley, near Andover, Southamptonshire. -The Earl of Fife has presented Mr William Duff, preacher, to the church and living of Grange, Banffshire. --Donald M'Kenzie of Newhall, Esq. has presented the Rev. Donald Sage to the church and united parishes of Kirkmichael and Culicudden. Ordnance Department. Roche, h. p. 14 F. near Calcutta, 3d April Carter, h. p. 22 F. Chester, Saunderson, h. p. 89 F. on passage from India, M'Pherson, h. p. Delancy's Cor. 1st Oct. Sir F. Armstrong, h. p. Portug. Serv. Lieut. Mayer, 8 Dr. E. Indies, 1820 Lynam, 3 Vet. Bn. (formerly of Rifle Brig Kelly. h. p. 39 F. Attwood, h. p. R. Eng. assassinated at Seville. Spain, Ensign F. P. Grieve, 64 F. Marcon Town, 26th July Jamaica, 7th Aug. 23d July Roy. Art. 2d Lt. Mathias, from h. p. 2d Lt. vice 1st Lt. Lethbridge, from h. p. 1st Lt. vice Boghurst, h. p. 1st Aug. 24 Lt. Wynne, from h. p. 2d Lt. vice Homfray, dead 2d July. 3th July 26th July Assist. Surgeon Bolton, F. Trichinopoly, Madras, 9th March Stafi Surgeon Rocke, h. p. Ballriggen, Ireland, METEOROLOGICAL TABLE, Kept at Edinburgh, in the Observatory, Caltonhill. N.B. The Observations are made twice every day, at nine o'clock forenoon, and four o'clock afternoon.--The second Observation in the afternoon, in the first column, is taken by the Register Thermometer. SINCE the middle of last month, the weather has been favourable for carrying on winter ploughing, and cattle have continued at pasture even in the remote Highland districts-a circumstance highly favourable to the hill-farmer, who is very unwilling to part with his live stock at the present low prices, and whose stock of winter fodder is much shorter than usual. About two inches in depth of rain has fallen since the date of our last, at almost regular intervals. Potatoes were all up by the end of October: the return is extremely variable, in some instances not a third, and in others, a full average return. The large breadth now laid under that esculent, always insures a full supply at market, and prices continue moderate. A few are shipping from the ports on the Tay for the south country, but the prices are nearly the same as in the town market. On the 3d of the present month a heavy rain fell in the lower districts, and the hills were every where completely covered with snow. Some Highland graziers removed their flocks, in consequence, to the low winter pastures; but the snows were dissolved by the evening of the 5th, and since that period the temperature has been unusually mild. Strawberries continue to flower, and even to yield ripe fruit. Wheat comes forward vigorously, and ploughing is considerably advanced. The dry weather in autumn has been favourable to the ripening of young wood, on trees of every description. A full blossom in orchards next season may therefore be expected. Turnips have improved considerably, and will be much weightier than was expected. Hay is rather scarce, and prices are looking up. In the price of grain there has been little alteration since our last. Cattle at some of the late fairs went off readily, but prices not much improved. The mania of farm-taking is somewhat abated, and competition is less keen amongst the cultivators of the soil. Those landlords who have their farms at present in the market, do not meet with offers nearly so high as usual, and some are let at least 20 per cent. below what they would have brought a few years ago. Perthshire, 14th November 1821. VOL. IX. 3 P |