Consule Thoma Elder, Academiæ Præfecto Gulielmo Robertson, TRANSLATION. By the blessing of Almighty God, And now, after two centuries, almost a ruin, The Right Hon. Francis Lord Napier, Grand-Master of the fraternity of Free Masons in Scotland, Amidst the acclamations Of a prodigious concourse of all ranks of people, New fabric; In which a union of elegance with convenience, Has been studied; On the 16th day of November, In the year of our Lord 1789, And of the æra of Masonry 5789, Thomas Elder being Lord Provost of the city; William Robertson Principal of the University; and Robert Adam Architect. May the undertaking prosper and be crowned with success. THE THE anthem being sung, the brethren returned, the whole procession being reversed; and when the junior lodge arrived at the door of the Parliament House, they fell back to the right and left, within the line of the soldiers, when the Principal, Professors, and Students, the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council, and the Grand Lodge, passed through with their hats off. The Grand-Master was supported, on the right hand, by Sir William Forbes, Bart. a former GrandMaster, and, on the left, by his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh. LIV. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1789. Francis Lord Napier, Grand-Master. George Earl of Morton, Grand-Master Elect. Lord Binning, Deputy Grand-Master. Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. John Stewart, Esq. of Allanbank, Senior Grand-Warden. James Wolfe Murray, Junior Grand-Warden. John Hay, Esq. Treasurer. William Mason, Esq. Grand-Secretary. Reverend Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain. Mr Robert Meikle, Grand-Clerk. No events of importance occured during this year. LV LV. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1790. George Earl of Morton, Grand-Master. George Earl of Errol, Deputy Grand-Master. Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. William Mason, Esq. Grand-Secretary. Reverend Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain. A NEW lodge, under the title of the Mount Olive Lodge, was erected at St Christophers, under a patent from Scotland. LVI. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1791. George Earl of Morton, Grand-Master. Marquis of Huntly, Grand-Master Elect. Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. William Campbell, Esq. Senior Grand-Warden. William Douglas Clephan, Esq. Junior Grand-Warden. John Hay, Esq. Grand-Treasurer. William Mason, Esq. Grand-Secretary. Reverend Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain. On the 30th November, the day of the election, the foundation-stone of the Bridewell, CaltonHill, was laid in the following manner. THE THE Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, in their robes. The Sheriff-Depute, attended by the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the county. The Band of the 53d regiment. The Grand-Stewards. The Noblemen and Gentlemen attending the Grand-Master. The Grand Jewels, Cornucopia, &c. The Grand Lodge. The Lodges according to their seniority; the Lodge of St Mary's Chapel walking first. THE procession began to move from the Assembly-Rooms a little after one o'clock, and reached the site for the New Bridewell, upon the Calton-Hill, about two. The Grand-Master then standing on the east, with the Substitute on his right hand, and the Grand-Wardens on the west, the square, the plumb, the level, and the mallet, were successively delivered by an operative to the Substitute, and by him again to the Grand-Master; with the mallet he gave three knocks, saying, May the Grand Architect of the universe grant a blessing on this foundation-stone which we have now laid, and, by his providence, enable us "to finish this, and every other work which may "be undertaken for the advantage of this city "and county." On this the brethren gave three huzzas. The cornucopia and two silver vessels were then brought from the table, and delivered, K k 66 the the cornucopia to the Substitute, and the two vessels to the Wardens, and were successively presented to the Grand-Master, who, according to an ancient ceremony, poured the corn, the wine, and the oil, which they contained, on the stone, saying, "May the All-bounteous Author "of Nature bless this city and county with abun"dance of corn, wine, and oil, and with all the necessaries, conveniencies, and comforts of life; and may the same Almighty Power preserve "this city and county from ruin and decay to the "latest posterity." On this the brethren again gave three huzzas. THE Grand-Master afterwards addressed himself to the Lord Provost and Magistrates as follows. "MY LORD PROVOST AND MAGISTRATES, "I HAVE the honour of meeting your Lordfhip, and the Magistrates of Edinburgh, this day, for the purpose of carrying into execution an undertaking, which there is every reason to believe will be attended with great public benefit. While we contemplate with pleasure the flourishing state of Scotland, we cannot help lamenting, that, from the imperfection of human affairs in this, as in every other country, the increase of arts, manufactures, commerce, and population, (however desirable in itself,) has been attended with a degree of corruption in the manners of the people, to which, I am sorry to add, |