add, the too general use of spirits, among the lower class of both sexes, has, in this country, greatly contributed. I trust, therefore, that every good citizen will most cordially join with me in giving due praise to the zeal of those honourable and respectable Magistrates, through whose exertions the sanction of the legislature has been obtained for the institution of this house of public discipline, which we are now preparing to erect. May it prove, under the guidance of Magistrates, upright and vigilant as those to whom we owe its existence, a terror to the idle and profligate, and a pledge of security to the industrious and well disposed inhabitants of this city and county. May those who shall once feel the severity of its discipline leave it so amended in their behaviour, and inured to habits of industry, as never to require a repetition of its chastisements; and may the accomplishment of the purposes for which it is founded be marked by the regular diminution of the number of its inhabitants." To this speech the Lord Provost made a very elegant and suitable reply. After the Lord Provost had finished his speech, the brethren again gave three huzzas, which concluded the ceremony. Two crystal-bottles, cast on purpose at the Glass-house of Leith, were deposited in the foundation-stone. In one of these were put different coins of the present reign; each of which being previously enveloped in crystal, in such an ingeKk 2 nious nious manner, that the legend on the coins could be distinctly read without breaking the crystal. In the other bottle were deposited two rolls of vellum, containing the names of the present officers of the Grand Lodge, and the present Magistrates of this city; together with an Edinburgh almanack, and a copy of each of the newspapers published in this city, viz. the Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh Evening Courant, Edinburgh Advertiser, and Edinburgh Herald. The bottles being carefully sealed up, were covered with a piece of copper, wrapped in block tin; and, upon the under side of the copper, were engraved the Arms of the city of Edinburgh, the Arms of the Earl of Morton, Grand Master-Mason of Scotland, of Masonry, and of the Right Hon. James Stirling, Lord Provost-of Edinburgh. Upon the upper side of the plate, a Latin inscription, of which the following is a copy. Regnante Georgio III. Ad nequitiam Intra Urbem et Comitatum Edinburgensem, Vir nobilissimus Georgius Comes de Morton, Urbis Consule amplissimo Jacobo Stirling, THE procession then returned to the Assembly Rooms. The Right Hon. the Earl of Balcarras walked on the right side of the Grand-Master, and Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master, on his left. His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh took the right of Mr Sheriff Pringle, and the Lord Advocate the left. THE foundation-stone of that princely fabric, the Royal Infirmary, was laid by the noble Earl's grandfather. That humane institution was intended as an asylum for the distressed, where the diseased in body might meet a cure. It has been reserved for the grandson to found a fabric intended for the express purpose of reclaiming the vicious, and promoting the noble ends of virtue. The following inscription is to be placed in the front of the building. For The safety of the good, The reformation of the guilty, Of The Right Honourable James Stirling, Lord Provost of the City, And And John Pringle, Esq. The foundation-stone was laid The Right Hon. George Earl of Morton, DURING this year a provincial deputation was granted for the Leeward Carribee Islands. LVII. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1792. The Marquis of Huntly, Grand-Master. Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. William M. D. Clephan, Esq. Senior Grand-Warden. John Hay, Esq. Grand-Treasurer. William Mason, Esq. Grand-Secretary. NOTHING of importance occurred during this year. LVIII. LVIII. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30 1793. The Marquis of Huntly, Grand-Master. Thomas Hay, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. Col. Maclean Douglas Clephan, Senior Grand-Warden. THE members of the Journeymen Lodge, having inconsiderately let their lodge room to a number of men calling themselves the Friends of the People, an extraordinary committee of the Grand Lodge was called to consult upon the business, when it was agreed, that their conduct was highly reprehensible, and it was unanimously resolved to suspend from their office five members, who who were concerned in that improper affair. This circumstance is mentioned to show the loyalty of the Grand Lodge, and their eagerness to discourage every society that was unfriendly to the existing government. LIX. |