quaintances, by the most pleasing manners, and by a temper singularly engaging and affectionate. He was in his 22d year. The following account of his character is given by his friends:-" The service, in which he has been bred for ten years, knows his worth as an officer: as a man, he was humane and sincere-innocent and unassuming in his manners, he obtained the good opinion of all who knew him. He was a comfort to his parents, to whom he ever shewed the most dutiful and loving obedience, from his infancy to his death. They never saw him in a passion. The meekness and simplicity of his whole life was very remarkable, and was immediately noticed by those who were almost perfect strangers to his character and disposition." Another gentleman, Lieutenant Hutchison, had also nearly perished. lle had advanced with his friend, Lieutenant Gourly, to throw a rope to the boy, who was struggling to keep himself above water, when the ice broke. A person ap. peared at this time with a life-preserver bound round him, which, however, not thinking it safe to use, he unbuckled it and threw it from him. Lieutenant Hutchison now seeing his friend, Lieutenant Gourly, struggling hard, went in to his assistance, but soon found himself in the same perilous situation, and the machine, it is stated, pro ved of no use to him. He endeavoured in vain to gain the shore, the broken ice, which was both hard and thick, preventing him from using his arms, which were much bruised and cut. After struggling in this situation for about half an hour, a rope was thrown to him, which he with great difficulty laid hold of, and by the exertions of a young gentleman, of the name of Douglas, he was enabled to reach the shore.

The frost was succeeded by a sudden and powerful thaw, which, although not attended by such fatal consequences, caused very considerable damage in these places where the snow had accumulated in great depth.

Glasgow, Dec. 30. The thaw, which commenced on Thursday, has continued.— During yesterday and last night there was a very heavy fall of rain, accompanied with a strong westerly wind. The Clyde has rien to a great height. The Low Green, Bridgegate, and other places on the north bank of the river, are covered, several feet deep, with water. It is one wide expanse of water from the buildings at Broomielaw, where, on the pavement, the water is 18 inches deep, to Clyde Buildings on the south side of the river; and at nine o'clock this morning a skiff was employed as a ferryboat. People are taken by horse and cart to the top of the New Bridge from Jamaica Street, and to the Old Bridge from Stock

The

well Street: but a land passage to the former is got by Maxwell and Clyde Streets. The food began to abate this morning about seven o'clock. It fell about five inches; but appears to be again rising. At its greatest height, at midnight, it was 361 inches lower than the flood on the 12th March 1782; and 3 feet 6 inches lower than the floor of the public offices. timber bridge remains entire, although the current runs with uncommon velocity.Several vessels are floating on the top of the quay at the Broomielaw; and yesterday two steam-boats were forced from their anchorage, and impelled down the stream. It is however expected, that before the flood subsides, the stranded vessels will be got off. The consternation and alarm which this flood has occasioned to the poor people, who chiefly inhabit the lower part of the town, are very great; and many of their houses will be rendered uninhabitable for a considerable time. We believe that a subscription will be set on foot for their relief. The Edinburgh mail, which arrives between five and six o'clock, did not reach Glasgow till ten o'clock this forenoon. The storminess of the night retarded its progress.→ The coach had only got to the 7th mile stone, (near the Almond water) when the horses were unable to proceed, from the water overflowing the road, and carrying along with it vast sheets of ice. The guard and the driver took the horses from the coach, and with great difficulty reached a neigh bouring house, where they obtained assist ance and fresh horses. The passengers, five in number, were taken from the coach on horseback. At one o'clock they proceeded on their journey, leaving the coach, as they were unable, from the depth of the water, to remove it. In the darkness of the night, and amid the general dismay, the flood carried off one of the coach horses. At Linlithgow, a horse for the bags, and a chaise for the passengers, were obtained.

Jan. 2.-The flood in the river is over; but we are sorry to find that much mischief has been done to the poor persons who inhabit the low part of the town. All the vessels stranded have been got off, with the exception of a steam-boat, lying on the bank at the west end of the new quay, Broomielaw. The two steam-boats, noticed last, as having drifted from their places, have been secured at Renfrew. Scarcely one of the lamp-posts, lately erected on the breast-work, is now standing. Although made of iron, and mounted on a block of stone, they have been wrenched from their bases, to which they were fixed by bolts and lead. Three of the bridges at Hamilton have been forced from their places-the Rozs,

Ross, stone; the Farm, timber; and Millheugh, stone. The timber bridge, after floating about four miles, landed on the race course of Hamilton. The bridge at Dunnitan has also been destroyed-a cir cumstance that will greatly retard the progress of the London mail.' Nearly four score of sheep were carried off from the grounds near Bothwell bridge. The Kelvin, having also risen to a great height, has done considerable damage to the public works and its banks. The Clyde had rendered the road from Glasgow to Hamilton impassable, and the London coach on Saturday proceeded by Rutherglen.

Carlisle, Dec. 30.-Towards the conclusion of the week a considerable quantity of rain fell, so that yesterday evening the Caldew overflowed its banks, covering the holm lands, and flooding many parts of Caldew. gate. The water is rapidly increasing, and it is believed that the river Eden will also occasion a deluge. This latter river, from the greater distance of its source, and running more upon a level, rises more gradually than the Caldew. Caldewgate is flooded in several parts three feet, and as far up as the diverging of the road to Wigton, Burgh, &c. the inhabitants busily employed in damming up their doors, to prevent the in-. trusion of the watery visitant. We are sorry to add, that a drowned horse, saddled and bridled, has come down the Caldew ; and there is too much reason to fear that its rider has been overwhelmed in the impetuous torrent.

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Whitehaven, Jan. 2. The weather, lately has been the most severe and changeable ever remembered in the course of at least forty years. All the former land storms, within that period, however bitter they might have been, were not subjected to such vicissitudes of snow, rain, and frost, which have, for more than a fortnight, been continually succeeding each other; with an interval of change, very frequently of only a few minutes. The streets of this town have been repeatedly rendered almost impissable from the heavy rain which had taden in the course of a day, and in such abundance as to give an idea of a complete thaw; but, in a very short time, the pavements exhibited so many entire sheets of ice. Snow, which had disappeared in the evening, was again visible the next morningIt melted; a deluge of rain fell, and, at the close of the day, it was followed by an intense frest, which, in its turn, yielded to the influence of an atmosphere the most variable within the recollection of any person Living

December 7. A full meeting of the Parliamentary Commissioners for executing the splendid access to this city, by the Calton Hill, Edinburgh, took place, for the purpose of deciding on the comparative merits of three plans and elevations for the Regent's Bridge and adjoining buildings, prepared, under directions from the Commissioners, by three eminent architects. After maturely considering the designs, the meeting unanimously resolved to adopt that furnished by Mr Archibald Elliot, architect, Carmarthen Street, Fitzroy Square, London.

20. About seven in the evening, one of the most destructive fires that ever was known in Berwick broke out in the extensive granaries of Messrs Johnston, Carr, and Co., John Dewar, John Waugh, John Forster, and George Sligh. The fire origi nated from the kiln used for drying grain being overheated, and raged with such fury, that, in a short time, the granaries (about 200 feet in length) were reduced to ashes. At one time the conflagration threatened the total destruction of all the adjacent buildings, which are very considerable, as they form a great proportion of the lower part of the town. Happily, however, the wind changed, which confined it entirely to the premises where it first originated. The damage is estimated at £.16,000. The granary was let to different tenants, most of whom were insured. Fortunately no lives were lost. A boy was pushed over the quay.

quay, but got out again very little injured, except by a good ducking.

Dec. 28. A numerous meeting was held in the Council Chambers, Edinburgh, the Lord Provost in the chair, at which it was resolved to establish an institution there for the encouragement of sacred music. A number of noblemen and gentlemen of distinction have agreed to undertake official situations in the institution, and we are happy to observe that the clergy have cordially joined in giving it their support.

Jan. 1. About half-past 12 in the evening a dreadful noise was heard at Ayr, somewhat resembling the shock of an earthquake. It was accompanied by a very vivid light, and shook the doors and windows of the houses where the inhabitants were awake at the time, and had the effect to awake some who were asleep, and made them start from their beds. To some it had the appearance, as if a large quantity of stones or heavy body had fallen on the ground, and to others, as if a second fall immediately took place. The same vivid light was scen almost at the same instant of time at Edinburgh, and at Coldstream, a town on the borders of England, and at the former place a slight rumbling noise was also heard.

Last month, a dreadful fire broke out in an apartment of the house of Powis, in Fifeshire, where two young ladies had retired to rest, and who most providentially awoke just at the time to save themselves, and arouse the family! The neighbouring popu lation for several miles round attended on the first alarm, and the most indefatigable exertions were made for many hours to arrest the progress of the flames; but as it blew a perfect hurricane at the time, no human exertion could save the centre part of the building; they however succeeded in saving the two wings of the house and a great part of the furniture and valuables. Mr and Mrs Alexander unfortunately were from home when the accident happened: part of the premises were insured in the Phoenix Office, and happily no lives were

lost.

APPOINTMENTS.

(From the London Gazette.)

Dec. 6. Charles M'Carthy, Esq. to be Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the settlement of Sierra Leone and its dependencies.

8. To be Companions of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath :

Captain Lucius Hardyman, Capt. George Tobin, Capt. Charles Baynton H. Ross, Capt. William Ferris, Capt. Donald MLeod,

Capt. William Augustus Montagu, Capt. Edward Chetham, Capt. Samuel Jackson, Capt. Francis Augustus Collier, Capt. James Pattison Stewart, Capt. Richard Spencer, Capt. Booty Harvey, Capt. Augustus William I. Clifford, Capt. Alexander Renton Sharpe, Capt. Joseph Needham Taylor, Capt. John Smith, Capt. George Barne Trollope, Royal Navy; Lieut.-Colonels James P. Murray, half-pay 5th garrison battalion ; Honourable Hugh Arbuthnot, half-pay 52d foot; William Woodgate, 60th reginent; Charles Cother, 71st regiment; Thomas Downman, royal artillery; George Wilkins 95th regiment; Charles Philip de Bosset, Roll's regiment; Arthur Jones, 71st regiment; Commander John Lawrence (2,) Royal Navy; Lieut.-Colonels James Colebrooke; William A. Thompson, 3d native infantry, Bengal; Majors John Ludlow, 6th native infantry, Bengal; Robert Paton, 5th native infantry, Bengal; William Innes, 19th native infantry, Bengal; Thos. Lowrey, 7th native infantry, Bengal.

11. The honour of Knighthood conferred on Benjamin Bloomfield, Esq. Major General in the army, Clerk Marshal, and chief Equerry to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and one of the representatives in Parliament for Plymouth.

12. Mr Thomas Aspinwall to be Consul for the United States of America, at the port of London.

20. Colin A Mackenzie, Esq. and George Lewis Newnham, Esq. to be his Majesty's Commissioners of Liquidation; Geo. Hammond, Esq. and David R. Morier, Esq. his Majesty's Consul-General in France, to be his Majesty's Commissioners of Arbitration; and the said David Morier, Esq. and James Drummond, Esq. Commissary-General of his Majesty's -Forces, to be his Majesty's Commissioners of Deposit; under the several articles of the convention, concluded at Paris on the 20th November 1815, between his Majesty and his Most Christian Majesty, for the examination and liquidation of the claims of his Majesty's subjects against the Government of France.

22. The honour of Knighthood conferred on Colonel the Honourable Sir Robert Le Poer Trench, and Lieut.-Col. Sir Joseph Cairncross.

30. The Right Honourable William Pitt, Lord Amherst, was sworn of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and took his place at the Board accordingly.

January 3. 1816.--Rear Admiral Charles Vinicombe Penrose, to be a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, in the room of ViceAdmiral Lord Viscount Gardener, deceased. 16. The dignity of a Baronet of Great

Britain

Britain and Ireland, granted to LieutenantGeneral Sir Robert Brownrigg, Knight, Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander in Chief of the British settlements in the island of Ceylon, and Colonel of his Majesty's 9th regiment of foot, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten.

At the last public sitting of the Royal Institute of France, a gold medal of the value of 1500 francs was adjudged to David Brewster, L. L. D. F. R. S. London and Edinburgh, for his discoveries on light and heat. This inedal is one half of the prize of three thousand francs, which was offered by the Institute for the best application of analysis to physics, or for the best series of physical experiments made between October 1813 and October 1815. The other half of the prize was given to Dr Seebeck, of Nuremberg.

Crawford Tait, of Harviestoun, Esq. has presented Andrew Mylne, A. M. preacher of the gospel, to the church of Dollar, vacant by the death of the Rev. John Watson, late minister of that parish.

The Earl of Buchan has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Thomas Erskine, of Trinity College, Cambridge, to be one of his Lordship's domestic Chaplains.

Dec. 11. The Rev. William Bogue, of Strathkinness, parish of St Andrews, appointed Minister of the Relief Congregation of Dunning.

20. The Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh, presented the Reverend Mr John Sommerville, M. A. house-governor of George Heriot's Hospital, to the church and parish of Currie, vacant by the death of the Reverend Mr James Dick.

25. The gold prize-medal, given annually by the Duddingston Curling Society, was played for upon Duddingston Loch, and won by James Millar, Esq. Advocate.

Jan. 3. The Right Honourable David Boyle, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, was admitted Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow.

9. The Rev. John Murray, preacher of the gospel, was ordained, to the pastoral sharge of the Trinity Chapel of Ease, Aber. deen, void by the death of the Reverend Mr Kirkland.

Office-bearers of the following Societies for the year 1816:

COMMERCIAL BANKING COMPANY OF SCOTLAND.

Ordinary Directors.

Wm. Henderson, Esq., Robert Anderson, Esq., Charles White, Esq., Samuel Pater.

son, Esq., William Ellis, Esq., Jolin Cheape, Esq., Adolphus Sceales, sen. Esq., Arch. Campbell, Esq., Thomas Burns, Esq., Forrest Alexander, Esq., John Anderson, Esq., George Brunton, Esq., David G. Sandeman, Esq., Robert Scott, Esq., J. Wyld, Esq. and Alex. Macartney, Esq. Manager.

Extraordinary Directors.

Colonel Alexander M'Gregor Murray of Trinity Lodge, Donald M'Leod of Geanies, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Macquar rie of Glenforsa, Alexander Munro, Esq. Prince's Street, Edinburgh, William Inglis of Middleton, Esq., James Amos, Esq. London, William Carlisle, Esq. Paisley, Robert Stoddart, Esq. Queen Street, Edinburgh, James Smith, Esq. Leith, Joseph Gordon of Carroll, Esq., Charles Husband of Glencairn, Esq., and George Lyon of Wester Ogie, Esq.

EDINBURGH PHYSICAL INSTITUTION.

Dr Andrew Duncan, Sen. President; Dr Home, Physician, Dr Barclay, ditto; Dr Farquharson, Surgeon, Mr Bryce, ditto; Mr Mackenzie, Apothecary, Mr Scott, ditto, Counsellors. Dr Williain Brown, Secretary z Mr Andrew Fyffe, College, Treasurer; and Mr John Young, Surgeon, Librarian.

EDINBURGH SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY.

James Hall, Esq. D. D. President. James Bonar, Esq. Treasurer. John Wardrobe, Esq. Secretary.

Directors.

Rev. Andrew Lothian, Thomas M'Crie, D. D. James Greig, Esq. James Marshall, Esq. Thomas S. Jones, D. D. John Murray, M. D. Patrick Neil, Esq. Rev. Dav. Dickson, jun. Charles Stuart, M. D. John Abercrombie, M. D. Rev. James Peddie, Rev. Thomas Thomson, Wm Braidwood. jun. Esq. Rev. Christopher Anderson, James Ogilvie, Esq.

WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

R. Jamieson, Esq. President. Lord Gray, Dr Yule, Dr Home, Colonel Imrie, Vice-Presidents.

Pat. Neill, Esq. Secretary.

Sir P. Walker, Treasurer.
James Wilson, Esq. Librarian.
P. Syme, Esq. Painter.

Dr Alex. Munro, jun. R. Maughan, Esq. Dr Macknight, C. S. Monteath, Esq. W. Ellis, Esq. Dr Wright, Dr Barclay, John Campbell, Esq. Counsellors.

SCOT