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 me thod, to whoever shall want it, for a suitable price.

Intelligence refpecting a fort of plafter for helping the growth of trees, for the difcovery of which, the inventor, Mr. Forfyth, the king's gardener at Kenfington, 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 address prefented laft feffion by the Houfe of Commons.

ITs ufes confift: ft. In healing wounds. In case of a wound fuftained by a tree in the bark, being applied to the wound, it fecures it againft putrefaction, and enables it to heal, in the chirurgical phrafe, by the first 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 spring 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 fpring, after the stump has thus been made to push out shoots, cut the tap-root, and you may tranfplant the tree, however old, with safety.

Mr. Forfythe's account of the preparation and its uses 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.

Thursday, May 19.

HE_Right Hon. the Earl of Leven, his Majefty's Comof

a

men, 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.'

39

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 also his Majefty's warrant for 10col. for propagating religion in the Highlands and Islands 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 handfome speech; to which the Moderator made a suitable reply; and after appointing a committee to draw up an answer to his Majefty's letter, the Affembly adjourned.

Friday, May 20.

The following anfwer to his Majefty's letter was read, and being unanimously agreed to, was delivered to his Grace the Commiffioner, to be tranfmitted to the King:

May it please your Majefty,

We have received with the utmoft refpect and gratitude the gracious letter with which your Majefty has been pleased 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 highest satisfaction, and are to us moft animating motives to perfevere 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 those humble expreffions of our loyalty and zeal, and your assurances that we shall always meet Vol. III. K k

with your royal protection, and that it is your Majefty's de termination 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 moft lively gratitude, and encourage us to repose the greatest confidence in your Majefty's goodness.

We beg leave to affure your Majefty, that it fall be our ftudy to direct our proceedings in future to the fame laudable purposes as heretofore, and to continue our attention to fuch measures as are beft 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 strict 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 Majesty's appointment of David Earl of Leven again to reprefent 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 interests of religion and virtue, and the fidelity with which he has fo 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 Islands 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 trust that all our proceedings fhall be conducted with that charity, unanimity, and brotherly love, and with that moderation, which your Majesty'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 Majesty'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 moft faithful, moft obedient, and most loyal fubjects, the Minifters and Elders, met in this National Ásfembly 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 Gladfmuir 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 fome of the heritors, againft John Telfair fchoolmafter 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 confi dered on Saturday following.

Sir H. Moncrieff-Welwood reported from the committee appointed to confider the augmentation of minifters ftipends, 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.

Tuesday-May 24.

Came on the cause of the united parishes of Tullich, Glenmuick, and Glengairden, wherein James Farquharfon, Efq; of Invercauld, and others, were appellants from the sentences of the presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, and the fynod of Aberdeen, and the Earl of Aboyne patron, and Mr George Brown prefentee to the faid parishes, were refpondents.

There appeared as counsel for the appellants, Mr John Miller, advocate, and the Rev. Mr Machardie for himself, who was likewife an appellant; for the refpondents, Mr Allan Maconochie and Mr David Williamfon, advocates; for the prefbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, Mr Thomas Gordon; and for the fynod of Aberdeen, Dr Gerard, Profeffor Thomas Gordon, and Mr Thomas Gordon of Craig.-The only objection to the presentee was, that he was not acquainted with the Gaelic language.

Parties being heard, and a good deal of reafoning having taken place among the members, a motion was made by Dr Walker of Colington, and feconded, That the Affembly fhall affirm the sentence of the fynod of Aberdeen, and ordain the prefbytery of Kincardine O'Neil to proceed with the fettlement of Mr George Brown in the united parishes of Tullich, Glenmuick, and Glengairden, with all convenient speed, according to the rules of the church.

Another motion was made by Dr Lamont, and feconded, That, in respect there has not been proper and fatisfactory evidence produced to the Affembly, that the knowledge of the Gaelic language is not neceffary in the united parishes of Tullich, Glenmuick, and Glengairden, and as it does not appear that the prefbytery has taken the neceffary steps for obtaining that evidence, the General Affembly remit this cause to the prefbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, with an inftruction to take the moft proper and expedient fteps in order to obtain a just knowledge of the real ftate of the parish, and report to next Assembly.

The ftate of the vote was Affirm, or Remit; and the roll being called, and votes marked, it carried Affirm, 74—Re·

mit, 49.

It was then moved, and unanimously agreed to, That as there are few perfons in the above parishes who have not the English language, the General Affembly fhall inftruct the committee on the Royal Bounty to appoint an itinerant, having the Gaelic language, to the faid united parishes, with all convenient speed; inftructing them at the fame time to provide Mr Grant, the prefent miffionary, in a fituation equally comfortable.

Wednesday-May 25.

The Affembly had under confideration the contefted fettlement of Mr M'Lean as firft Minifter of Dunfermline. Mr