to me, and to my fellow-citizens, that the first stone of this important work has been laid by you. Allow me to remark, that there appears a fortunate propriety in this ceremony being performed by the son of a man, to whom our city, the navy of Britain, and the whole Empire, are under so many obligations. PERMIT me, in the name of the Magistrates and Council of the city of Edinburgh, to return our warmest thanks to you, to your brethren, and the gentlemen who have honoured us with their attendance upon this occasion. And may that Almighty Being, whom winds and seas obey, accompany this undertaking with his blessing, and crown the work with success.' THE Ceremony being concluded, the brethren gave three cheers, which was followed with a salute of twenty-one guns from the vessels in the Roads, under the command of Captain Clements of the Royal Navy, THE procession then returned, in the same order as before, to the Assembly Rooms at Leith; where the Substitute Grand-Master, in name of the brethren, returned their united thanks for the very proper and handsome manner in which the Deputy Grand-Master had conducted himself upon this occasion; to which a suitable return having been made, the Substitute Grand-Master addressed himself to the operative brethren to the following effect: "The foundation-stone of the wet-docks at Leith, planned in much wisdom by the ingenious architect, being now laid, and these implements in your hands having been applied to it by the Grand-Master and approven of, they are recommitted to you with full confidence, that, as skilful and faithful workmen, you will use them in such a manner, that the building may rise in order, harmony, and beauty; and, being perfected in strength, will answer every purpose for which it is intended, to your credit as craftsmen, and to the honour of our ancient fraternity." After this the Deputy Grand-Master closed the lodge in due form. THE procession was attended by a party of the 4th or Dumfries-shire militia; who, by their steady conduct, prevented an uncommon crowd of spectators from impeding or interrupting its progress. There probably never was such a numerous procession, so happily conducted and carried on, and that too without the smallest accident having happened. The morning being fine, the ships in the Roads and Harbour having their flags flying and colours displayed, rendered the spectacle more grand and pleasing. In the course of this year Alexander Cunning ham 4 ham was appointed Jeweller, and Alexander Lawrie, Bookseller and Stationer to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. LXVI. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30, 1801. Charles William Earl of Dalkeith, Grand-Master. J. Trotter, Esq. of Morton-Hall, Senior Grand-Warden. William Guthrie, Esq. Grand-Secretary. Rev. Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain. Mr James Bartram, Grand-Clerk. No events of importance distinguished the proceedings of this year. LXVII. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1802. George Earl of Aboyne, Grand-Master. George Earl of Dalhousie, Deputy Grand-Master. Sir George Mackenzie of Coul, Bart. Sen. Grand-Warden William Guthrie, Esq. Grand-Secretary. Reverend Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain. Mr James Bartram, Grand-Clerk. THE day of the Grand Election was distinguished by a splendid procession of above 1200 brethren, from the Parliament House to the King's Arms Tavern. In the course of this year a letter was received from Lewis Clavel of Rouen, Provincial Grand-Master of all the Scotish lodges in France, requesting a charter for a lodge at Marseilles, and inclosing a copy of a paper, said to be written by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, granting to the lodge des Eléves de Minerve at Paris, the liberty of granting charters. This, however, appeared to be a forgery, as no such power had been granted by the Grand Lodge. Such is the estimation in which Scotish masonry is held on the continent. In the course of this year a provincial deputation was granted for the Bermudas in the West Indies. A CIRCULAR letter was this year received from the Grand Lodge of America. The spirit of illumination which it breathed, and the supernumerary degrees amounting to about 50, which it authorised, were sufficient reasons for drawing down the contempt of Scotish masons, whose honour it is to have preserved Free Masonry, for many centuries, in its original and simple form; and whose pride it shall ever be to transmit, to the latest posterity, the principles and ceremonies of their order unpolluted and unimpaired. LXVIII. LXVIII GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1803. George Earl of Aboyne, Grand-Master. John Clark, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. William Guthrie, Esq. Grand-Secretary. AFTER the election was over, the brethren walked in procession from the New Church Aile to the Tron Church, where an appropriate and eloquent sermon was preached to them by the Reverend Mr David Ritchie, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, from a passage in the Hebrews, "Let brotherly love continue." The Earl of Dalhousie, Grand-Master Elect, in absence of the Earl of Aboyne, was attended, on this occasion, by the Earl of Errol, and Sir James Stirling, Bart. late Lord Provost of Edinburgh. THE brethren having re-assembled at the King's Arms Tavern in the evening, to celebrate the festival of St Andrew, were honoured with the company of his Excellency the Earl of Moira, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces in Scotland, and Acting Grand-Master of the Grand Lodge of England. From the presence of this nobleman the friends of the Grand Lodge of Eng land |