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of any repairs. Fifth, if the timbers should not even exceed twenty feet in length, the bridge may be nevertheless constructed with the fame folidity. Sixth, a fufficient number of figures, to be reprefented on twenty plates, fhall be delivered along with the work, which shall give fuch a plain representation of the work in all its parts, that an experienced architect fhall be able, by the help of thefe, to direct the carpenters with the utmost certainty to execute every past of it. Seventh, to expose the side of it as little as poffible to the force of ftorms, care has been taken to give to this bridge a very low roof, but which is not the lefs confiderable for that, and, which is peculiar to itself, in place of pushing outwards as other roofs generally do, this anfwers the purpofe of an anchor which tends to keep the bridge together at the top, and has at the fame time a fufficient height to make the water run as much as is neceffary. Eighth, I can affert that this fort of bridge is fingular in its kind, on which the heaviest burdens may be carried with fafety. There are a great many bridges in Europe of a confiderable length, but not of fuch a length without pillars or fupports; and there are likewife none to be fouud without a good buttrefs, and guards, and still less constructed with a fimple foundation without abuttment; not to mention the continual repairs which this new method would fave altogether. Ninth, we fhall give with the engravings and defcriptions an eftimate of the expence, as if a bridge were to be built at Hanover four hundred feet long, by thirty eight broad.

"I receive the fubfcriptions myself; but I beg the amateurs to fend their letters free; and as soon as there fhall be a fufficient number of fubfcribers, I will put the work in hands, and make the plates be engraved. The price of the fubfcription is three Louis d'ors, each worth five German crowns, two of which fhall be paid at the time of fubfcription, and the third on the receipt of the work. The names of the fubfcribers fhall be put at the beginning of the work; any one who takes ten copies fhall get the eleventh gratis.

Signed HENRI JAQUES LUTZ,. Mafter carpenter at the court of Hanover,

Poftfcript. After this work fhall be published, I can communicate a model of a complete bridge, as also one for a houfe to exercise cavalry and infantry, four hundred feet in length within, without pillars and columns, after this method, to whoever shall want it, for a fuitable price.

Intelligence refpecting a fort of plafter for helping the growth of trees, for the difcovery of which, the inventor, Mr. ForJyth, the king's gardener at Kensington, is to have a reward of 3000 l. in confequence of a report made in his favour by the commiffioners of crown lands, to whom it was referred, in purfuance of an addrefs prefented laft feffion by the Houfe of Commons.

ITs ufes confift: ft. In healing wounds. In cafe of a wound fuftained by a tree in the bark, being applied to the wound, it fecures it against putrefaction, and enables it to heal, in the chirurgical phrafe, by the firft intention.

2d. In accelerating the growth of timber, and producing young timber trees from the roots of old pollards. Cut down an old oak clofe to the ground, cover the stump with the plafter; young fhoots will fpring up from every part of the circumference. Thin them out year after year as you want them, leaving one for a standard. That one in ten years will have made a fhoot, equal to what a feedling oak would have made in thirty years.

3d. In infufing youthful vigour into the oldeft fruit-trees and enabling them to undergo transplantation, cut down the tree in the spring, almost as low as the graft, cover the ftump with the plaster, lay bare the roots, and cut them all but the tap-root; The next spring, after the stump has thus been made to push out shoots, cut the tap-root, and you may tranfplant the tree, however old, with fafety.

Mr. Forfythe's account of the preparation and its ufes is faid to be in the prefs *. He is to have 1500 1. immediately, and the remaining 1500 1. after a certain time, fhould the discovery by that time have fulfilled, what it undertakes for.

Mr, Forfyth's account is just published here, of which farther extracts will be given, if it appear neceffary.

Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, met at Edinburgh, May 1791.

THE

Thursday, May 19.

HE Right Hon. the Earl of Leven, his Majefty's Commiffioner, attended by a number of noblemen and gentlemen, went as ufual in proceffion to the High Church, where he was received by the Magiftrates in their robes. The Rev. Dr John Walker, minifter of Collington, the late Moderator, preached before the Commiffioner, from 1 Tim. chap. ii. ver. 1. and 2.—“ I exhort therefore, that, firft of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honefty."

After fermon, his Grace went to the affembly-room, when the Rev. Dr Robert Small, one of the minifters of Dundee, was unanimoufly chofen Moderator for the enfuing year. His Grace's commiffion was then read, and alfo his Majefty's warrant for 10col. for propagating religion in the Highlands and Iflands of Scotland, which were ordered to be ingroffed in the books of the Affembly in the ufual manner.

The Commiffioner then addreffed the Affembly in a handfome fpeech; to which the Moderator made a fuitable reply; and after appointing a committee to draw up an answer to his Majefty's letter, the Affembly adjourned.

Friday, May 20.

The following answer to his Majesty's letter was read, and being unanimoufly agreed to, was delivered to his Grace the Commiffioner, to be tranfmitted to the King:

May it please your Majesty,

We have received with the utmoft refpect and gratitude the gracious letter with which your Majefty has been pleafed to honour this General Affembly of the Church of Scotland.

The diftinguished marks of approbation which your Majefty has formerly vouchfafed to give us, and condefcended fo gracioufly at this time to repeat, afford us the higheft fatisfaction, and are to us moft animating motives to persevere in our zeal in promoting found learning and true religion.

As we gladly embrace every opportunity of expreffing our duty and affection to your Majefty's perfon, and of our firm attachment to your mild and aufpicious government, your gracious acceptance of thofe humble expreffions of our loyalty and zeal, and your assurances that we shall always meet Vol. III. K k

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with your royal protection, and that it is your Majefty's determination to maintain and support the Church of Scotland as established by law, in the full and free enjoyment of all her juft rights and privileges, at once fill us with the most lively gratitude, and encourage us to repose the greatest confidence in your Majefty's goodness.

We beg leave to affure your Majefty, that it fhall be our ftudy to direct our proceedings in future to the fame laudable purposes as heretofore, and to continue our attention to such measures as are best calculated for diffufing the principles of genuine Chriftianity, and for inftilling into the minds of all ranks of men committed to our care a confcientious regard to moral duties, and a ftrict obedience to the laws, and for promoting the general peace and happiness of society; and, to give dignity and authority to our proceedings, we fhall be careful to avoid all unneceffary difputes and fuperfluous difcuffions, and to maintain that harmony which hitherto has obtained your Majefty's gracious approbation.

We confider your Majefty's appointment of David Earl of Leven again to represent your royal perfon in this Affembly as a fresh mark of your gracious condefcenfion and goodness to us. His known loyalty to your Majefty, his attachment, like that of his ancestors, to the Church of Scotland, his tender regard to the interefts of religion and virtue, and the fidelity with which he has so frequently difcharged the duties of the high and important office which he now fills, render him moft acceptable to us.

We accept of your Majefty's donation of one thousand pounds, for the propagation of the proteftant religion in the Highlands and Inlands of Scotland, as a fresh mark of your Majefty's paternal care of all your fubjects. As we feel ourfelves highly honoured in being made the inftruments of your Majefty's pious intentions, it fhall be our ftudy to fulfill them by the most prudent and effectual application of the fum that is intrufted to us.

We truft that all our proceedings fhall be conducted with that charity, unanimity, and brotherly love, and with that moderation, which your Majefty's paternal care leads you fo anxiously to defire; and we accept of your earnest wishes for our profperity and welfare as a moft endearing proof of your Majefty's favour and affection.

That the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift may direct your Majefty's Councils to the public good; that he may blefs you with every domeftic comfort; that he may blefs the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family;-that, after preferving your Majefty long to be the guardian of our free conftitution, and of the rights of your

people, he may call you, full of years and of glory, to the poffeffion of an heavenly crown: and that he may grant to your race, through future generations, to fill with dignity the Britifh throne, and to promote the intereft of his kingdom on earth, are the fervent prayers of, may it please your Majefty, your Majefty's most faithful, moft obedient, and moft loyal fubjects, the Minifters and Elders, met in this National Affembly of the Church of Scotland.

Signed in our name, in our presence, and at our appointment, by R. SMALL, Moderator.

The Affembly then appointed the following gentlemen to preach before the Commiffioner, viz. The Rev. Mr M'Culloch of Dairfey, on Sunday the 21ft in the forenoon; and the Rev. Mr Hamilton of Gladsmuir in the afternoon. The Rev. Mr Taylor of Glasgow, on Sunday the 28th in the forenoon; and the Rev. Mr Gordon of Sorn in the afternoon.

Saturday was chiefly employed in examining contefted commiffions.

Monday-May 23.

The Affembly took under confideration a reference from the Prefbytery of Langholm, respecting the relevancy of a libel given in to that prefbytery by some of the heritors, againft John Telfair fchoolmaster of Langholm, accufing him of several irregularities. There appeared for the prefbytery of Langholm Mr John Ruffel and Mr John Laurie, and for the heritors of the parish Mr Robert Hamilton advocate; Mr Telfair schoolmafter for himself, and Mr John Hagart advocate as his counsel.

After reading the minutes of the prefbytery of Langholm, with the libel and answers, a motion was made and feconded, That this caufe be remitted to the prefbytery of Langholm, in terms of the decifion of the Commiffion of laft Affembly, with inftructions to them to proceed without further delay, to the best of their judgment, according to the rules of the church, which were agreed to.

An overture from the fynod of Lothian and Tweeddale, and another from the fynod of Merfe and Teviotdale, on the fubject of the Slave Trade, were read, and ordered to be confidered on Saturday following.

Sir H. Moncrieff-Welwood reported from the committee appointed to consider the augmentation of ministers stipends, that they are not yet ready to lay a proper plan before the Affembly, but that feveral things had been fuggefted to the committee which may promote the object in view. The Affembly approved of the report of the committee, the thanks of the Houfe were given them from the chair, and a committee again appointed.

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