SCOTLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 212, 11 October 1860, Page 4

SCOTLAND.

[from our own correspondent.] July 24th, 1860,

During this month the weather throughout Scotland has been most propitious for those who were engaged in haymaking or pleasure seeking. There has been very little rain, and though the heat has been great, yet it has not been very oppressive, as the sky has usually been cloudy. June was cold, wet, and ungenial, and in consequence of this the crops were generally looked on as a good deal behind the average; but the recent favourable change has wrought wonders, and all kinds of crops, particularly barley and oats, have -made rapid progress, and promise, to he ready for the sickle in good time, and to turn out well both in bulk and yield. The hay has been secured in admirable condition, and as the warm weather came most seasonably for the young clover the crop is likely to be ah average at least. The improvement on the pasture fields has altered materially to the better the appearance of cattle and sheep, which were in a deplorable condition owing to the severity of the winter; but, contrary to wool is in quality not inferior to that of more favourable years. It is, however, deficient in quantity ; and it may be interesting to you in New Zealand to know that there is‘a great demand, and that high prices are ruling. The fine weather, as you may understand, has emptied our cities, and sent hundreds of thousands to Moffat, Bridge of Burntisland, and Portobello, and of course all the Glasgow folk are ‘‘down the water.” Speaking of Glasgow, I may remark, that the Fair holidays this year wore a most marked contrast to what they have been in several former years; Instead of ceaseless, pitiless rain, sending thousands of poor, drenched wretches to the public houses, the working folk of the western metropolis had a most favourable opportunity for a run by steamer or rail to the breezy hills of Bute, Dumbarton, and Argyle, and many of them availed themselves of the opportunity. Steamers and railway trains, were, about the 12th and 13th, seen setting off in all directions, swarming with a living ‘ load of young and old. For those of the working people who had not the means or taste to take a run away from the dirt and bustle and smoke of the city the jail square showed its usual attractions, although the shows are not now by any means so formidable as in other years.: We had a few Worthies eating fire, .vomiting pins, and tossing knives - and balls—Mr. Merryman, accompanied with & wench or two in spangled petticoats—and a small quota of equestrian and Wild beast establishmentsbut the improvised theatres, with their tremendously excitiug i placards of the “ Double Murder,” the “Mysterious Mother,” “ Bluebeard,” and the “ Forsaken One,” gave place ,Ito a crowd of photographic saloons, where for . a sixpence and up*

wards the lads and lasses got their likenesses taken to send, in some instances probably, to their friends in the South Pacific. Mumford’s theatre, at the foot of the Saltmarket, contained a panorama of Missionary settlements and operations in Africa, and, Shade of Thespis! Parry’s was the scene for a week of Teetotal soirees. You will agree with me in thinking these are, on the whole, favourable indications as to the habits of the working people of Glasgow. During the Fair week one of the Glasgow volunteer companies proposed to take up their abode in tents on the hill above Kil* mun, to enjoy the advantage of a few days regular drill and" rifle practice—not to speak of the fun of dwelling in tents ; but—tell it not in Gath!—a few drops of rain, or a Scotch mist, sent the heroes home. You must know that all our young men are playing at soldiers, and it is hardly possible to go far, in town or country, without encountering one or more with tyouse and cartridge-box and rifle. There were strong wishes in all parts, that there should be a grand review of Scottish volunteers on the occasion of the Queen’s visit in autumn, and there seemed little doubt but that these would be complied with. The great difficulty in the meantime seemed to be in the choice of a place for the exhibition, —a place accessible to the various companies, and where space could be had for the evolutions of fifteen or twenty thousand men. This difficulty has led to the abandonment of the scheme, except in so far as the Edinburgh men are concerned. The Queen and the government are fostering the volunteer movement, and one of the most effective ways of encouraging it has been the giving of prizes for rifle shooting. At a great competition on Wimbledon Common, a few weeks ago, young Ross, of Rossie, came off superior to all other competitors. He could hardly be anything but a crack shot, for his father has been long known as the deadliest and keenest of deerstalkers, and his mother can readily bring down single birds, while she can hook, play with, and land a salmon as adroitly as the cleverest male disciple of Tom Stodart. The volunteer movement is not the only manifestation of the belligerent spirit among us. Heenan, the American bully, and Sayers, the champion bruiser of England, have been “ starring,”—Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, — in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and I am sorry to say they were patronised by many of whom better things might have been expected. Is it not humiliating, that our two principal cities, so famous for their intelligence and morality, should have given some hundreds for the sight of two well-fed and well-trained animals showing, how well they could, if roused, give each other black eyes and bloody noses ? The miserable fruits of these disgusting exhibitions have already begun to appear in several prize fights,—in two instances with fatal consequences,—in various parts of the country. We, verily, are the people to refine and evangelize the A/aories and other heathen. “ Physician, heal thyself! ” “Cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shall thou see clearly to cast the mote of thy brother’s eye.” -

I do riot know whether your readers will take any interest in the Cardross case, which has caused and is causing a good deal of excitement in Scotland. It arose out of the follow ing circumstances. My. McMillan, Free Church minister of Cardross in Dumbartonshire, - was suspended by the Assembly for intemperance and other immoralities. He raised an action in the Court of Session, and he was forthwith deposed by the Assembly. The Assembly at:first refused “ to satisfy production,”- —that is, they declined the authority of the Court of Session in the case, and would not give extracts of their findings regarding McMillan. The casein this stage went against the Assembly, and they were ordered “to satisfy production.” After careful consultation, and on the understanding that their preliminary plea was reserved, they gave up the necessary documents.' In the second stage the case has been pleaded with much ability on both sides, and has now been taken to Avizandum. If a decision is given against the Assembly, the case will undoubtedly be carried to the Ilousti of Fords, arid this will be the result also if McMillan should lose, provided he is able to raise the needful. The matter is one of very great importance, as involving questions intimately connected with the position of dissenting churches, and, indeed, bearing on the most vital interests of civil freedom. The gallant old soldier, Lord Clyde,-—or as the people still insist on calling him,' Sir Colin Campbell,—-has arrived among us from India, and has been received with great enthusiasm. It is said, that an estate will be presented to him by, the nation, as in the case of .the Duke of Wellington. Certainly, he deserves all the honour we can give him, for, though snubbed and passed over in the Crimea, because, forsooth, he had the misfortune to be born with a wooden ladle in his mouth, he yet responded like a truly brave man When the nation, finding itself in circumstances too terrible for the Do whs arid Wyndhams and Codringtons, called for his services; and did nobly, and at once, what was wanted. Speaking of India, I see a notice in the papers of the death of Lord Elphinstone. This "is the noble. lord who, more., than twenty, years' ago, was so great a favourite with the young lady Victoria, that he was almost a barrier in the way of the successful suit of'Prince Albert. As;Lord E. was not married, he, is succeeded by his cousin, Mr. Fleming, of Cumbernauld. You will see that f,prd Palmerston has hinted strong suspicions of Louis JVapoleon, and that there is likely to be a large, outlay on fortifications. I fear we shall see,’ ere, long, a terrible; political storm throughout Europe; the cauldron is again bubbling violently,